How Do You Sleep?

Dogged by nightmares, if you must know.

Rumour floating round Reddit - reputable source - has it that this LCD Soundsystem epic track is basically James Murphy coming for Tim Goldsworthy, co-founder of DFA. Seemingly he buggered off to the UK with their equipment. And knowing that the lyrics are pretty scathing.

Love a bit of drama, me like.

Beyond the lyrical battle, the colossal composition of this track journeys through stirring, then to impassioned and explodes into the frenzied. So it basically echoes my current day-to-day internal battle.



The book Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011 is supposed to be a good read for some insight. But academia has ruined my ability to read for pleasure. Gimme an audio version so I can rest my weary, tear-sodden eyes.

New Build

A new joint venture.

Very hot off the press. Featuring members of Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem.

No link to the website as yet because it crashed when they announced it.

But I found the track.

It's great.

Finding Reasons by newbuild

LCD Soundsystem

In Lego.



Absolutely spot on. Flawless.

I am not ready to accept that it is over..

The last time I saw LCD Soundsystem cannot be the last time I would ever see LCD Soundsystem.

A proper farewell tour. Is it really too much to ask? Murphy has been threatening it for so long I didn't think it would be quite so abrupt. So it can't have happened. It is not over. The part-time hipster portion of my life is not ready for retirement.

The Kübler-Ross model of the stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I am in denial. And acceptance right now seems like something that will never ever occur.

This article nearly made me cry.

I know that when I watch the final gig I will definitely cry. I shall inform you if it helps me through any of the other stages of grief.



If somehow the Pitchfork version makes a reappearance onto the internet please someone let me know. And obviously I shall do the same.

Leeds Festival

Shaking overly-long hair to James Murphy et al.

Oh, the aftermath. It is nearly over, but it has been painful. I would like back all the sleep that I was deprived of. I slept even less than I anticipated I would. 2 hours on the first night. Excellent.

That said, it was, overall, definitely worth it. I have my gripes about the organisation, and there were a few things that are pretty shameful for such a long-running, established and seasoned festival. But when you get to see performances like that of Everything Everything, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem and Funeral Party it is made all the better!

Obviously camping was awful. It had a few amusing moments. Some boys nearby quoting Toy Story. Another boy shouting 'Ben' in a strange voice for nearly an hour. On one day someone shouting "FUCK OFF!" then a pause "I FUCKING HATE CAMPING!".. I feel your pain. Waves of cheers were an auditory delight. The bass from Picadilly Party until nearly 5am shredded my famously fragile nerves.

There were moments of sheer joy. Tears at the wonder of Arcade Fire. Elation on seeing Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) in the flesh. Literal slack-jaw gawping at the energy of Funeral Party.

I'm probably going to pick out stand out performances and blog separately about those bands. But needless to say I was very lucky and fortunate and saw some fantastic acts.

But the organisers of Leeds Festival have left a sour taste in my mouth. Over the years they has put on this event they must have learnt an awful lot of lessons. Many things were vastly improved. But in my opinion they sold the soul of the festival to reignite some lack-lustre, nostalgia-provokers. There was little effort elsewhere on the bill. They should not have named the Dance Stage as such. The sound quality on the main stage was disastrous for many of the acts. Don't even get me started on the shambles that left my best friend devastated that was the performance by Mumford and Sons. Horrible advert folk. But nevertheless, if people next to you spoke you couldn't hear the band. WTF Leeds?! £180! I fucking brought my own accommodation, you twats!

Ahem.

I am clean now. I still have all my personal belongings and most of my dignity. Pictures are available on my Facebook.

LCD Soundsystem

I'm still at Leeds Festival. Most likely I will be very unhappy at my general appearance and having not slept properly for 3 consecutive nights.

But I'll be coming home straight after this band. And probably on a massive high. And I'll probably think it was all worth it.


LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator (Single Version)

A very strange day...

I'm still poorly. Nervous and anxious. Desperate for anything to take my mind off what is happening. Listening to either Belle and Sebastian or Death From Above 1979. Immersing myself in the LCD Soundsystem album and attempting to formulate something exciting to say about it. I have a presentation next week. I'm not concerned, but I should be. My ears are ringing, my throat is sore, my eyes are puffy. I look bedraggled. I feel bedraggled.

At moments where I can no longer bare the world and the ongoings around me I have a deeply personal ritual.

I watch Yellow Submarine.

Yellow Submarine from alta2009 on Vimeo.

Drunk Girls

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls

My new job which is temporary and I was hoping I could impress the right people to keep me on looks like they'll have no other option than to let me go. And so working hard and trying to impress has been a big waste of time. Prospect of unemployment. Excellent. This video made me happier though.

Fuck. Shit. Fuck.

James Murphy

He's told NME that he is done. "I'm out of here" in fact. There is another tragedy we can squarely pin blame on the NME for. If they hadn't of done that interview he wouldn't of said that. It would of happened regardless. But, fuck it, let's blame the NME.

And we can talk about the philosophic things he said in the interview with regards to money and getting rich. But right now I need to make light of the situation.

So I throw open the discussion of what James Murphy can do once he has 'retired'. I think come and carry my numerous books I always have around for me. My very own fluffy, older, entrancing American book carrier. It'd be a conversation starter.

"Oh, hi, how are you? Have you met my materials vehicle, James? He used to make amazing music with LCD Soundsystem, but now he turfs my books and notes around for me. He's got some interesting views on the nature of employment and pay.. Mmm.. Haven't you, James? And look at how cute he is! You should see him hit a cowbell! Got time for a coffee?"

I have time to work out the finer details yet, they are touring more or less forever. Go to Pitchfork to have a listen to Drunk Girls.

Tracks that I have announced as being the single most important track of the year

Yes, there are several. They are not, however, to be confused with the general Tracks of the Year type of thing. No, these tracks are ones that for whatever reason, upon hearing, I announced them to be the single most defining and important track of 2007.

“TRACK OF THE YEAR!”
“What?!”
“Track of the year.”
(pause)
“This is the track of the year.”
“What about the others that you said were track of the year?”
“Errrr… shurrup!”
(general threat of violence)
“There have only been two others, so… this is like track of this third of the year.”
“Whatever Steph.”

First 3rd of the Year



Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Always slightly in love with Cut Copy and so was very excited when this floated up into musical landscape. Upon hearing it for the first time I think I immediately messaged or called my boyfriend to probably tell him I’d just heard the track of the year. Not that he’d of taken me seriously.

It actually made me believe that there was hope for the-blight-of-the-really-good-debut-album syndrome. Shame I’m still waiting for the follow up to be leaked. Not long now.

My adoration for this song knows no limits. I even enjoy the sax solo, which is rare, as being a saxophonist myself the sound usually makes me cringe. Somehow it’s been utilised perfectly in this song.

Second 3rd of the Year



LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

The “consensus choice” as Mr Morton once described to me. Indeed, he was spot on with that phrase. But absolutely everyone can see why.

That ear-tickling piano accompaniment that carries you through the sheer delights of this song never ceases to break me into shivers every time I hear it opening. Flickers and pops of static that echo through your mind leaving it hollow for the sole purpose of letting this sound, song, voice, lyrics and feeling reverberate the walls of your mind.

The gravity of this song is incredibly personal. A song that becomes entangled in hurt, trauma and heartbreak. The situation transcends the song and ultimately you berate it for ruining a perfect piece of music.

Third 3rd of the Year



Dan Deacon - Wham City [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Wham City is a track that is split into two parts. Each part as equally wonderful. It really all just depends what sort of mood you are in as to which you’ll prefer at any given time. But as a whole its brilliance.

The joy, magic and wild, confused story-telling that is captured in Wham City will send you to a frenzied child-like tantrum state. Flailing arms, shouted singing, quite possibly running in circles.

After posting this track on Pop Cultureddd a while back Wham City became one of those songs I listened to on repeat. I forced those I loved, and wanted to love this track, to listen to it. I sent it to friends and waited with bated breath that they’d feel the same passion for it that I did. And I must admit. Everyone loved it.

LCD Soundsystem a gulity pleasure?!

Who'd have thought it, eh? Obviously one of the strongest albums to be released this year. Highly anticipated live shows. And that hair.

I don't mean guilty pleasure in the way that phrase is over-used at the moment. But after the devastating news my life recently received I was more than a little guilt-ridden and hysterical at the recent LCD Soundsystem gig in Newcastle at Digital. Wildly jeering threats of violence (more than usual that is), 'celebrity' spotting Paul Smith again, necking vodka and being hugely over-excited by James Murphy. I was a little bit, well, I'm not sure, just a bit of a mess. I did actually cry to Someone Great, but I think that is fairly understandable.

But I had to post about it. Yes, it was a while ago. But, hey, who cares? I'm not going to blog from the actual gig! Although I reckon some over-zealous, geeky, lack-lustre blogger would. I was drinking. The reason I had to post? Because it was a bloody amazing gig. And I ended up having an over-whelming feeling of incredible luck. It was humbling. How can a gig do that?!

And I witnessed the hottest thing I have ever seen on-stage.

James Murphy hitting that cowbell.

If you get the opportunity go and see LCD Soundsystem. In a small venue if you can. I enjoyed them a million times more for it. Although James Murphy had problems with the volume and had his fingers in his ears a lot. Cute as.

17 Sep 2007 Red Rocks Morrison, Colorado
20 Sep 2007 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, California
30 Sep 2007 Roy Wilkins Auditorium St. Paul, Minnesota
3 Oct 2007 Waterfront Park Louisville, Kentucky
5 Oct 2007 LC Pavilion Columbus, Ohio
20 Oct 2007 Tripod Dublin
21 Oct 2007 Apollo Manchester
22 Oct 2007 Barrowlands Glasgow
23 Oct 2007 Brixton Academy London

Lovely jubbly.

P.S. Oh and I see that there are various remixes floating around the internet ether. Find them.

Updating my MP3 player..

For my various train and bus rides home.

I've got Feist's new album, The Reminder that I have been meaning to listen to and just not got round to. And after the Boys Noize remix of My Moon My Man that seems to be making a second time appearance round the blogs, and hearing it last week at the Crystal Castle's gig, I have decided I'm very much liking that song. For the Boys Noize remix check out Missing Toof.

Oh, I should actually mention that having eventually listened to the new LCD Soundsystem album I am totally in love with its main peaks. I think All My Friends made every hair on my body stand on end if not the first, definately the second time and then everytime thereafter. Check out the Franz Ferdinand cover, cool as sin, not sure its half as good though.

The Aliens - Astronomy For Dogs is a lot better than I expected. Especially not being impressed when I saw them live recently, but I definately think there was a distinct correlation between how much alcohol they had consumed and their bad performance. Check out the track Rox I can't help but be reminded of Late Of The Pier's most ground-breaking and overly remixed Space and the Woods, there are some great remixes of it to be fair.

I've still not got Help She Can't Swim's new album. Much to my dismay. I want to purchase it but then I'd probably not be able to eat for a while. It's definately going to have to come under close consideration. Food or HSCS?

And, well, after genuinely enjoying, the most cheesy way, Our Velocity, the fun first single from the new Maximo Park album. I really should make an effort for the guys who come from where I live. I may, in fact, even wear my Maximo Park t-shirt today. Oh yes! You know it says 'Mint' on the chest in gold-foiled letters!

I'm probably going to put lots of other stuff on too but I have to read about Weber's idea on religion and various spheres of culture and then get a few notes typed up on the unequal distribution of wealth.

~sigh~