Merry Christmas.. Don't buy Guinness..

Something seasonal from Yuilly and a much love and festive cheer from little ol' me at Pop Cultureddd!

The suggestion to refrain from purchasing Guinness is to counteract the quite overt nature of the video. Other alcoholic beverages are just as good. Mine's a Boddington's if anyone's buying.

You know the 'Best of the previous 12 months' thing makes me bork...

I don't get the constant need to review and mark the passage of time specifically in December by being nostalgic for the music of the past 365 days and gazing optimistically into the future with predictions of more music to come in the next 365 days that might just make everything alright.

But if you are going to press me on it then I might do my usual cop-out, I'm not doing a list or a chart rundown of singles, videos or anything like that. It is more likely to be experiences or general moments that resonated with me.

So just give me a moment, okay Blogsphere?!

Here is something old and not from this year to fuck you off.

This is simply due to an old post of mine that I read, from when I used to write well, and while the track and this video (without the amazing Mark Heap) still reflects the inside of my head, I am better off and happier in one particular way.

a whole lot of balls from Rui Madeira on Vimeo.

Thank you.

When capitalism exposes itself...

Whilst Nicki Minaj might be packing abnormally exciting amounts of arse (that's right, we don't say 'ass' at Pop Cultureddd, we say 'arse') and making it look outrageously good, the blatant brand pushing of her latest "collaboration" has left me feeling decidedly less enthused.

Of late Nicki Minaj has become a hip-hip and r'n'b sensation both here in the UK and more internationally. And whilst the powers of corporate promotion have largely become acceptable there are glimpses of its inner workings that are just too ugly to allow to go unnoticed. A bit like when there was a near moral panic over the X Factor auditions being (or not being) auto-tuned. Or when once great bands who stated several years back that they would only reunite for a sizable sum of cash then have all recently started to reunite. Or when you put accidentally put on Radio 1.

Well, Nicki Minaj had done this song with will.i.am -- which is obviously awful in and of itself because he is a member of the Black Eyed Peas, who will stop at nothing to ruin chart pop music and every possible encounter you may have with a popular shop/club/bar/television programme/fragrance/anything that might make them money -- they realised a video for this song. I somehow found myself watching nearly all of it despite the presence of will.i.am. I didn't particularly enjoy any of it. In fact, I had what a questionnaire might categorise as a 'strong dislike' for it.

After some time I felt like I could have forgave Nicki Minaj for this sin.

Then I saw that rather uncouthly the video has been re-released and now also featured Cheryl Cole. But how do you re-release a video, you might be wondering? Well essentially you have Cheryl stand in front of a green-blue-who-cares-what-colour screen and jiggle about and then place those shots into the video. You might even get her to record some vocals singing over the top of will.i.am.

Original video:



Re-released video:



Regardless of whether this is a 'remix'. It is a sickening attempt to further exploit the fanbases of the requisite artists involved. Reportedly Cheryl is attempting to establish herself in the US to go and pedal her brand there and no doubt Nicki Minaj would love to gain a few of her Peoples' Princess fanbase here in the UK.

It is all a bit too painfully obvious. Where is the illusion? Smoke and mirrors? The magic of consumer capitalism has failed quite spectacularly here.

And do you know what annoys me the most? Nicki has several changes of outfit throughout the video, as is the expectation of any music video in the 21st century. However, the best Cheryl can muster is a pair of sunglasses for a few frames of the video! Wardrobe fail!

LCTRISC

I'm shit at leaving notes for myself to blogs about particular artists. Utter shite. But despite another weird name LCTRISC are very not shit. In fact, this track of theirs is brilliant. And the video is worth a watch too. It reminds me of this. I'm a loser. But LCTRISC aren't! The Swedes are bloody great. Love Last Kiss.

Last Kiss by LCTRISC

LCTRISC - Last Kiss (Official Music Video) from johan stolpe on Vimeo.

Jamie Woon

Dubstep singer-songwriter? Yes please.

Every aspect of this excites me. Jamie Woon may not be reinventing the wheel -- no, Burial did that for us -- but he is certainly doing something very fresh and, in my opinion, bold.

So be sure to keep an eye open on music sites and newspapers like The Guardian that get very excited this time of year by 'hotly' tipping who will be big next year, effectively ruining the careers of those they are trying to big up. Who really wants only Guardian readers at your gigs? Not even I would enjoy that!

Spiral by woon

Jamie Woon - "Night Air" from lorenzo fonda on Vimeo.

Ghost Eyes

When we went to see Gold Panda at The Cut in Newcastle two weeks ago I was pretty taken aback by the whole evening.

The venue was odd to start with. Odd in an intriguing and kind of good way. It is supposed to look like a dilapidated warehouse/falling apart apartment block. Which whilst it had its charms, like the strip lights in the ceiling and interspersed between half formed stairs coming through the ceiling, which looked great when dim and acts were playing. I didn't understand the tables submerged into the floor. But a very cool little place. If it got more gigs like this I would be definitely going back. There is nothing worse when you really look forward to a gig only for the venue to be rubbish and spoil it.

Anyway, the real purpose of this post is to share the first support act. I'd suspected that there was two support acts, only to be told I was wrong by one of the people involved with the night, got there and there was two support acts. The Boys both sighed and agreed that they were fools and that I am always right. It is quite often the case this happens. And bloody hell, I wish I'd have been more prepared. I had a drink in hand and parka in a ball by my feet. Ghost Eyes seemed to rather coyly introduce themselves, no particular expectations, then proceeded to explode the club! And I mean explode. Various different looks were exchanged, but I failed to see anyone looking at their gig buddies with anything less than a particularly impressed face. The sound quality when they nearly killed us with bass was fantastic. Executed with perfection. It would have been an favourable way to have slipped into the afterlife/black hole for eternity.

For a band that only have only 11 followers on SoundCloud they really are very convincing and fully-fledged. I can only see them improving. But it was their live performance that was so amazing I just had to talk them up! There recorded stuff is good, but if you get the chance to see them live, I seriously recommend it! They have an upcoming gig in London that sees them on the same line-up as the almighty Matthew Dear.

Here is a track of theirs:

Kill Friends by Ghost-Eyes

Oh, and yes, obviously Gold Panda was amazing. I saw him kicking around for ages before he went on and wanted to say something. But I literally had nothing to say that wouldn't have embarrassed me or him. At least one of us would have blushed.

Funeral Fireworks

Funeral Fireworks -- what to say? I genuinely am unsure as to how I stumbled across this artist. But it probably occurred after yet another long stint browsing SoundCloud whilst ploughing through several journal articles. And immediately I was completely enthralled. Melodically complex in certain points but still retains an endearing naivety.

The Light Shines On Your Face by funeral fireworks

Untitled by funeral fireworks

Future Shocked by funeral fireworks

WRSTLRS video!

WRSTLRS - Tiny Mirrors Minotaur Windows

Willow Smith

A much missed pop music blog would have probably burst at the seams upon seeing this.

'Impressed' is a word that doesn't convey what I feel towards this song and video. 'Awe', that is better. Awe.

Willow Smith - Whip My Hair from haute chicago on Vimeo.

YAAKS

A blog new to me -- and pretty bloody awesome as it goes -- known as My Band's Better Than Yours recommended and hotly tipped a very fresh band called YAAKS. Who currently there is fairly little to say about.

A band with the mission statement:

"YAAKS ARE SIX MINDS PLAYING MUSIC TO BEST PORTRAY THE THOUGHTS OF JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU"

Nice. Attempting to portray political philosophy through music. That is a sure fire way to, not most girls' loins, but certainly mine.

They sound fantastic too!

BRKLYN FIG 1 (DEMO) by YAAKS

HRHRHYTHM by YAAKS

Banjo or Freakout

Banjo or Freakout is the act supporting Gold Panda at the above gig -- and the other dates on the tour -- which I am going to tomorrow night and am rather giddy about.

Could be promising...

Upside Down by Banjo or Freakout

Go here for more tracks.

P Money

Effortless. This is brilliant. I love P Money.

Kinnie The Explorer

It is a sound of music that almost inherently causes me to use oxymoronic phrases to describe it.

So I won't bother embarrassing myself. Just check out Kinnie The Explorer.

Kinnie the Explorer - Blind Spider from Elliott Trent on Vimeo.

James Owen Fender

I heard this ages ago, wrote myself a little note to check it out, then lost the note and have today just found the note. James Owen Fender is a new artist that is beginning to receive a lot of good chatter from all the people you want to notice you. So largely me blogging the track will do little-to-nothing in furthering his musical career.

The Cloud is possibly the most Northern idyllic, indie-pop song to come about in a long time. I really like it. The more I listen to it, the more I seem to smile.

And, the icing on the cake is that it is filmed in Filey. My Dad and lovely step-family live there. And The Boyfriend and I have incredibly fond memories of visiting. We'd love to go now, but it is such a tourist seaside town that we can't get a bus there this time of year. And whenever we go it is always basically cloudless skies. Just like the video.

So I'll dedicate this to my Dad and step-family. And the featured charity shop.

James Owen Fender - The Cloud from wearesealegs on Vimeo.

Funeral Party Tour

Excellent. I don't have to put myself through the trauma of an arena gig full of 30 Seconds To Mars fans to see Funeral Party. The prospect of that had made me bork.

But no! They have announced today a UK tour in the new year!

Bristol, Fleece – Jan 25th
Oxford, Academy 2 – Jan 26th
Manchester, Academy 3 - Jan 27th
Glasgow, King Tuts - Jan 28th
Aberdeen, Tunnels - Jan 29th
Belfast, Stiff Kitten - Jan 31st
Dublin, Academy 2 – Feb 1st
Newcastle, The Cluny - Feb 3rd
Leeds, Cockpit – Feb 4th
Nottingham, Bodega - Feb 5th
Norwich, Arts Centre - Feb 6th
Birmingham, Academy 3 - Feb 8th
London, Cargo - Feb 10th
Brighton, Audio - Feb 12th

Get your surprisingly reasonably priced tickets here!

And here is Giant Song, which is a really brilliant track of theirs, and you can even download it. Look. See the button? It is the arrow pointing down. Get it? Go on, download it.
08 Giant Song by aimie

I Hate You Just Kidding

This sounds terrible, but I find it really quite a challenge to enjoy music like this nowadays. My housemate/dead-weight-round-my-neck/best friend/surrogate-incapable-teenage-son is actually fuelled by this sort of thing and, therefore, all car journeys will be accompanied by a very narrow spectrum of music. He has ruined it for me. Moron.

Coupled with the fact that all fucking mobile network adverts seems to be plundering every ounce of cute-twee-idyllic music to peddle and promote more rampant consumerism.

"I have such a beautiful, summery existence and spend most of my time frolicking in meadows. But I still need a brand new phone with the latest and most irrelevant technology every year! Now, now, now! I want a new fucking phone now! Otherwise the guy in the independent bookstore might not fancy me. Or I'll lose the ability to frost perfect cupcakes. Or I might start liking X Factor. A NEW PHONE NOW!"

Hello hipster, you probably don't have that many friends because your self-absorbed existence renders you unfit for human interaction. And you can't see past the irony of your alternative-seeking life actually further playing into the hands of the niche capitalists who have your every wish planned, mapped out and controlled remotely.

Or something.

But it must be the vocals of My Little Dove with breaks in the voice as Jessi Fulghum sings that remind me of Tracyanne Campbell from the glorious Camera Obscura which have won me over.

I Hate You Just Kidding - My Little Dove [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

And the deep tones of the other half of this duo, Jeremy Brock really add in Speakeasy, as does the pace.

I Hate You Just Kidding - Speakeasy [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

You are all probably going to like them. A lot.

Caspian

When the outside world really is just too busy, noisy, fluid and I need to generate focus, I can be often found squeezing my little black earphones in and nodding my head towards the book in my lap. And at the moment the sound to accompany this solitude is always Caspian.

Some of the most exquisite music you could wish to hear. Amazing melodies, crushing crescendo's and blissfully quiet moments. You do not get such an artistic range of emotion and sound from many other bands. And all without lyrics.

I am ashamed that I have not posted a thankful mention about Caspian sooner. The album, The Four Trees, has helped me get through a serious amount of reading. Hundreds, upon hundreds of pages. With ease. Such is the enchanting beauty of their sound that numbs my usually racing mind into a state of sheer concentration.

Unfortunately I will miss out on their upcoming UK dates. And it has been a long time coming. But they should have ventured North East way a bit more and I'd have been there.

04.11.10 Galway @ Roisin Dubh
05.11.10 Waterford @ The Forum
06.11.10 Dublin @ The Academy
07.11.10 Belfast @ Limelight
08.11.10 Manchester @ Ruby Lounge
09.11.10 Glasgow @ King Tuts
10.11.10 Leeds @ Cockpit 2
11.11.10 Birmingham @ O2 Academy
12.11.10 London @ O2 Academy Islington
13.11.10 Norwich @ Norwich Arts Centre

Here is a live performance of the opening track of the aforementioned album:

Caspian - Moksha (Live in Hong Kong) from Tommy Au on Vimeo.

Gold Panda Tour

It is not usual that I'll be so motivated by an upcoming gig that it'll end up on here. But this is pretty special. A November headline tour by Gold Panda.

Thu 11 Nov 2010 Brighton - Audio
Sat 13 Nov 2010 Newcastle - The Cut
Sun 14 Nov 2010 Leeds - Constellations Festival
Mon 15 Nov 2010 Manchester - Ruby Lounge
Tue 16 Nov 2010 Glasgow - King Tuts
Thu 18 Nov 2010 London - Corsica Studios
Fri 19 Nov 2010 Bristol - Start The Bus
Sat 20 Nov 2010 Norwich - Arts Centre

I think tickets are available through Ticket Web. I will be in keen attendance at Newcastle. Very excited. And I can't remember the last time I bought such bargain priced tickets. £6! Bloody brilliant.

Here is the video for the very wonderful Snow and Taxis.

Snow And Taxis from Gold Panda on Vimeo.

And here is a little gadget to help you sign up for the mailing list. Including a free gift when you do!

Caribou

Obviously I have been living under a rock or something equivalent. And I don't just mean my most recent characteristic period of blog neglect. I have never had Caribou in my life until very recently.

WTF! FFS! And other such acronyms.

I am a thorough Caribou devotee now. But apparently not devoted enough to be able to attend any of the upcoming UK tour dates. I'd give my ability to logic and reason (which is admittedly pretty poor of late) to go to the Manchester date at The Warehouse Project where the line-up also includes - you'll have to excuse me whilst I sob gently through genuine hurt at not being able to come up with the funds to go - Four Tet, James Holden and - I'm biting my quivering lip at this one as I've never seen him live - Nathan Fake. It might be too early for this level of upset. I'm not sharing the Caribou tour dates because I would just be too jealous if you were to go. Go and Google it yourself, you show-off twat!

Uncalled for, I know.

I have a feeling that rather than playing with research proposals I'm going to be looking at cheap ways to get to Manchester. Accommodation is out of the question. And although I have never got free entry to a gig through writing this blog, if it were to happen now, for this, I'd definitely say yes. Just in case. You know.

Less about my needs.

Here is the latest Caribou album Swim:

Swim by Caribouband

And whilst I probably like the single Odessa more, I love this video:

CARIBOU - Sun from Caribou on Vimeo.

The Hundred In The Hands

This is great. Enjoying their sound. Not enjoying the poses.

The Hundred In The Hands.

The Hundred In The Hands - The Hundred In The Hands by Warp Records

Gold Panda

There is a new centre to my universe.

Gold Panda.

I seriously cannot get enough!

I stated recently that had I not only discovered Gold Panda last week on Sound Cloud that I think the album Lucky Shiner would have been definitely one that I was eagerly anticipating. In fact, having not purchased the album myself yet, but finding a little player from which to stream it I have found myself listening to it upto 6 times a day depending on the amount of time I have to be sat at a computer.

Maybe I have gone Gold-Panda-crazy. I've heard it can happen. Maybe it just solidifies my status as a square.

Either way the man of whom I have come to form a non-real, but very real affiliation for, based primarily on this interview, produces some great awkward-techno and will be up there now with my religious-type love for The Field. There is actually a Gold Panda remix of The Field, but I am having to work myself up to something quite so momentous.

Here is Lucky Shiner..

The Chemical Brothers

After an interview with The Chemical Brothers on 6 Music and hearing approximately 30 seconds of one of their new tracks I decided that I liked the new album.

They had mentioned that they had not done the album based around guest vocals. Which I like! A lot! Not having the pressure and constraints of particular vocals to work around or work them into tracks seems to have worked wonders on this album. It works brilliantly as an album.

It has some very different moments in it. And my current two favourite are probably very different from one another. The depth and ferocity of Horse Power means that as a track it is an actual phenomenon. But the dreamy and circular nature of Another World has actually had me hitting repeat far too many times as is healthy.

The Chemical Brothers - Another World from ikkunapaikka on Vimeo.

Belle & Sebastian

Ooooh, how exciting is it when Belle & Sebastian are releasing new music? I don't think words can accurately articulate the feelings of those a little bit twee. Or a lot twee.

I love the world.

For now.

Although, what if the album isn't very good?!

Then I'd hate the world.

I think I hate the world now just through fear of it not being very good.

Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

balanceisrestored

Funeral Party

Picture: What I can't have...

Post Funeral Party Leeds Festival set:

"I could go home now. I'd be happy. I could go home and not regret anything. How can anyone top that performance?"
"What about LCD Soundsystem later?"
"The only thing that could contend. I'll stay for James hitting his cowbell. Even then they'll never put on a performance like that! Funeral Party are my new favourite band!"

The performance by this band at about 2:30 in the afternoon, in a half empty tent, was the best live musical performance I have seen by a band that I didn't know much about. It blew me away. Confident. Energetic. Tight.

It very nearly moved me to buy a t-shirt based on the performance alone. But at £20 my crippling poverty won out again.

Ignore all the fucking shite comparisons that lazy and boring music journalists tell you these guys are similar to, just to make you listen to them. Take two minutes out of your own time and life to listen for yourself.

I don't care if they make it big or not. I like them. Actually, I will probably be quite upset if they hit it really big and I have to go see them in an arena type setting. Critical acclaim. They can have that. But not commercial success.


Funeral Party - Just Because

WRSTLRS

I had planned on blogging about another highlight of Leeds Festival today, but last week I stumbled upon a track sent to me on SoundCloud, and I am so excited to share it that the other will have to wait. It was from some new group by the name of WRSTLRS and immediately I was in love.

Matt Bergeland and John LaMonica are from America. For a more precise location go on Google Maps and type in their name. It won't help. I'm sorry. Extremely new and hurrying to create a website and get their music heard. Laptops and a mic. They create a sound that is instantly likeable. I want to hear more. Agreement that their music is brilliant was confirmed by the other members of my household, with their highly differentiated music tastes (plinky-plonky folk Vs. grime). So Pop Cultureddd will definitely be championing WRSTLRS.

This happens to be my current favourite track:

Did You Come To Save Us by WRSTLRS

Oh, and join their FaceBook group/page/thing! Do it now!

Holy Fuck

Holy Fuck are always good to see live. It is a given.

At Leeds Festival everyone seemed to enjoy their performance. It was brilliant after all.

If you've never come across them before you really should have a part of your non-brand MP3 player dedicated to them.

To get you in the mood...

YT006- Holy Fuck - LP by Young Turks

Everything Everything

Everything Everything were really impressive at Leeds Festival. One of the opening acts of the festival and they really set the bar high. Their sound is varied and diverse throughout the set, but with enough melodic coherence to understand that this is a very accomplished group of musicians.

Definitely worth investigating.

I like this. It is a good video too.

Everything Everything 'My Kz, Ur BF from Blink on Vimeo.

Mr Oizo

My life will simply not be fulfilled until I can experience this...

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.

Para One

This track has been kicking around for what feels like ages. And it is a slow release kind of track. Like porridge. A porridge track, if you will.

And just like porridge it is bloody brilliant.

It definitely doesn't need anything adding!



I don't know why I've not posted this sooner! Browsing the wonderful Shattered Satellite reminded me.

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)

Four Tet

I may explode on this day at Leeds Festival.

I have posted this video before. I make no apologies. Mark Heap is a stunningly wonderful actor. And the track will never lose any of its wonder.


Four Tet - Smile Around The Face

Arcade Fire

The first actual proper, actually proper day of Leeds Festival. I'll most probably be a little bit hungover and nervous of the prospect of two more nights camping. It is rank.

But the highlight will definitely be the main stage headliner. And, in fact, the only real time I'll be at the main stage throughout the weekend will be this day.

Arcade Fire - No Cars Go / (videos: timelapses) from Mikel Àngel Rotger on Vimeo.

I must add when looking for a video, I found several videos of people's babies dancing and enjoying Arcade Fire. I nearly posted all of them instead. But they were just too cute. It may have induced vomiting.

James Yuill

Or Yuilly, as I like to call him.

I meant to blog this track some time ago. But you know, most things seem to impede me currently.

The isolation of this video is familiar.

James Yuill - On Your Own from Ben Reed on Vimeo.

Justin Bieber

Yeah! That's right. Justin Bieber! I don't like him. I'm not on any sex offenders register.

But there is a Sound Cloud sensation going on and it has to be heard to be believed.

The Justin Bieber track You Smile has been slowed down by 800%. I think it might, or might not be by Shamantis. But trying to confirm it was giving me a headache. So listened to this track again. Absolutely mind blowing. As ambient as you'll ever need. And at 35 minutes long it would be perfect to unwind to.

J. BIEBZ - U SMILE 800% SLOWER by Shamantis

Leeds Festival

I am going to Leeds Festival. I'll probably schedule some inane posts to pop up whilst I'm there.

But I thought I'd ask if, from looking at the line-up, if anyone had any recommendations?

I'm bloody dreading camping. And having to possibly walk past the main stage on either Saturday or Sunday. And the fact that as a girl it is now a pre-requisite to have a specialised 'festival look'. And that I might be too cold. And that I'll feel old. And that someone might try and get into my tent at night. And that it might be a little bit cold. And that it might be rainy or windy. And that it'll bleed my purse dry. And that I will most likely be too cold. I'll be cold. Cold and I will cry.

But overall I am very excited.

Katy B

Unless you only listen to XFM and only read the Metro, you should be aware that dubstep is getting a great big bloody load of attention of late. Not least of all because, well, it's about time.

Katy B is fresh out of the BRIT School, which whilst has had a few dodgy alumni (Dane Bowers, Katie Melua and The Kooks) has helped produce some really fantastic artists (Imogen Heap and Amy Winehouse). And I think if this track by Katy B and Benga is anything to go by, she is certainly 'one to watch'. That phrase just made me gag.

Seriously, her vocals seem to wander seamlessly through cutting beats and top notch dubstep.

I love this track.



Imagine if you only listened to XFM and read The Metro... Do you think people like that really exist? They probably like sitcoms with laughter tracks too. And use the phrase "I'm not being racist but.." a lot. And don't know who Jon Snow is. I hope I never meet one.

Canblaster

I'd like to share some information with you about Canblaster, but then I'd actually have to be in possession of that information.

It basically comes down to the fact I like how this sounds.

Canblaster - Jetpack by CANBLASTER

Visage

On occasion in order to move forward you need to retread the past. In becoming familiar with the good and the bad of what has happened it is easier to prepare and become keen-eyed for the future.

Whilst re-hashing an essay I recently made a mess of, and have cried far too many tears over, I am also having 1980's electronic pop whistling around.

This is for my increasingly short weekends.

Visage - Fade to Grey from JANUS MUSIC on Vimeo.

They Might Be Giants

Regardless of how big a sigh I might be taking this song can literally make me jump up and down.

Has it got old? I'm not sure it has...

Birdhouse in Your Soul - They Might Be Giants from They Might Be Giants on Vimeo.

Just great.

Go away..

I really need to go away.

Get away from all of this.

Interpol - Take You On A Cruise [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Tempa T

I am a proper massive fan of Tempa T. I'm not even going to waste my energy giving reasons and justifications. When I meet him you'll see the picture of us shouting "Won't get none of your CD's back" on here post haste.

TEEEEEEEEEEMPZ!

Would you like to dance?

Friday is a day of the week that is representative of an awful lot of different things.

At the end of a week in which most of the control of the trajectory of my short-term financial dealings has been removed from me, I just want to indulge in a bit of mindless dancing. That being said, it has been a surprisingly positive week. All the more reason for dancing, I say.

So this sexy-disco remix will do nicely.

Gorillaz - Dare (DFA remix) [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Spark

How about a bit of pop on a summers day? No is not an option.

Spark is young, shiny new and has an electronica-sweet, pop sound, so if it were December the Guardian would be quaking and announcing her as rising sensation for 2011. So let's get all hysterical and announce she might be one to watch for Autumn! Oooo. We're cutting the hyperbole ten-fold here at Pop Cultureddd.

This is a demo of her current single doing the rounds. Very nice to stick on your non-brand MP3 player and accompany any overly-warm public transport journey.

Spark - Shut Out The Moon (Demo) [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

P Money and Grime generally...

I like grime. In fact, I had to think very long and hard, and sensibly talk myself out of doing my Masters dissertation on grime. Such is my warm feelings and fascination for grime.

It might not be your cup o' tea. But I'm sick of not sharing it on here. Broaden your horizons, people! The world of grime is seriously addictive and makes Hollyoaks look boring!

It is all down to The Boyfriend. But I have a list of artists I'm currently into.

And when I saw that P Money had performed at Glastonbury I was thoroughly pleased.

Gorillaz

Okay, so the performance by Gorillaz last night was hit and miss. I didn't particularly enjoy the first 30-40 minutes. I was singing along, but it lacked that essential connection you need. The bass apparently was non-existent. As was Mos Def due to tragic personal circumstances. Which would I have been my personal highlight. I adore him.

But when they were whacking out the guest appearances toward the end it really got an awful lot better. I disliked Damon Albarn, a lot. I don't know why. He doesn't normally irritate me that much, but I suppose it has something to do with normally being around that dick Coxon.

Anyway, I digress. Gorillaz might have got panned by the Guardian. But I've never trusted that paper after they gave reference to Pop Cultureddd in a Blog Roll Call. Questionable fools. I thought for all the pressure that was on them to replace U2 and orchestrate all of those guests, it was pretty great.

But I sure am glad I didn't shell out £50 to go see them on tour in the autumn. The whole illusion being broken of the real-life band. The lack-lustre performance in many parts. The lack of co-ordination. I'd rather keep my money. But as a Gorillaz fan, I felt a pang of pride.

I've been singing this all day.

Gorillaz Ft. Mos Def & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Sweepstakes [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Fake Blood

Some great things have happened. I seem to have had many celebratory drinks of late.

And when I heard this Fake Blood track recently, it was beyond fitting. Fake Blood has been around for a while and I've always had a few of his tracks floating around my (old, dead) computer. But this is different and definitely I like it!

I will be playing I Think I Like It tonight whilst popping open some Bucks Fizz. Classy lady!

Fake Blood - I Think I Like It [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Radiohead

Pretending I don't hate everything

For those of you who don't know, I wrote my undergraduate dissertation on Radiohead and the release of the album In Rainbows. While some might believe that makes me a seasoned expert, it doesn't. It makes me bitter. Full of regret. Wishing I'd have thought better. I hated myself long before the end of the project. And hated Radiohead fans. And most of all, I hated Radiohead. In the delirium of it all I bought a t-shirt and mug to wear and use almost constantly during my all-nighters to get the burden complete. Once the monstrous beast had been defeated there was some reprieve. And then I had to go see them live again! Bastards! I'd bought the tickets an eternity before the project began and then about 3 weeks after my needlessly in-depth encounter I was due to see them live in Manchester.

The above picture was my posing in between mumbling expletives about Thom Yorke.

I did enjoy it. There is no doubt. However, it was unfortunately timed during my much needed Radiohead detox.

The news that their new album is nearly finished and will be released later this year has dragged up some odd feelings. Thanks 6 Music!

Readers, please don't let me study it this time!

Radiohead - Weird Fishes / Arpeggi from Stephen Blacker on Vimeo.

Cut Copy

Cut Copy are going to be back soon. Their 3rd album is on the way. Not a great deal of live dates, but give them time. It'll come soon enough. Just the news that they have finished making the album is good enough to have a cup of coffee and a biscuit to. Lean back in your chair and smile.

Here is a little short video of clips from the studio.

The Chemical Brothers

When bustling or moping through my house of late I always seem to collide with the tracks from the latest The Chemical Brothers album. And I have really enjoyed everything I heard. I didn't give it too much thought as to why this might be. But then I heard Steve Lamacq throwing questions at them. And for this album they have done away with the big celebrity vocal guest appearances. Aaah, in one fell swoop I realise why I have instantly warmed more to their new stuff.

In the spirit of this The Boyfriend and I were discussing our favourite tracks by The Chemical Brothers and I have selected one that we both are enjoying massively again at the moment.

And obviously is has the amazing Michel Gondry video. Gondry is awesome.

Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers from Chen VM on Vimeo.

Socially awkward..

If I kid myself that isolation leads to objectivity might it make up for the fact that I am comparatively socially lonely? Not tonight. Most days, yes.

belle and sebastian_electronic renaissance from melissa harding on Vimeo.

I adore this song.

There have been two great polarisations at various points in my life that have very nearly been characterised and described perfectly by the lyrics:

"If you dance for much very longer, you'll be known as the boy whose always dancing...
If you work for much very longer you'll be known as the boy whose always working..."

I think I'm still a misanthropist, in part. And that is at the heart of it.

Avoiding defeat..

Christ. It is all bloody stupid. I hate all of it. I am going to cry.

Patrick Watson- Luscious Life from Opak Media on Vimeo.

I'm keeping my chin up. Honest. I just need a moan, a hug and a drink. I will form a plan and I won't fall off the face of the earth.

All The Lovers

Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers

Yey! Yey! Yey!

I like it. I can't wait for the real video. She'll look awesome. I want to go and see her live. I wish my Kylie t-shirt fit me.

Any promo company that wants to send me to her concert or send me a t-shirt or give me the new album, please feel free. They would all be warmly received.

Okay, that is the last shameless greedy request from me. For now. Until I really want something else.

We're fucked..

Picture caption: "Look at the mess you've made!"

Yes, it is time to cry, despair, cash the pennies for the rainy day, repent your sins, watch the unfolding of the redressing of class power structures and throw up. I have done the last on that list. My tummy couldn't take the news. Throwing myself around the room and furniture. Writhing about on the floor. Postulating. Shouting. Conjecture and imaginings.

Sexual intercourse. I propose that fucking is the best way to proceed. Lose yourself in someone else. Exploit someone else to achieve ecstasy.

And do it do Death From Above 1979. It is amazing. That song.. Make Love And Listen To... bollocks.. it's a cliche for a reason, my friends.

Here is the sexiest. Hand picked not for love-making. For fucking. And to forget that we are politically fucked.

Death From Above 1979 - Pull Out [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Failing tactics..

I am massively tired today. I have no reason to be. I didn't do anything strenuous yesterday. I had an adequate amount of sleep.

All the little things I usually do to kid myself into feeling energetic, or just less tired, are not working. I had 3 cups of coffee this morning, which is normally ends in nervous state. But yawns prevail. Peppermint tea to freshen up. Nothing. Sugary snack. Heavy eyes. Pretending I'm a Young Knife. Enjoyable but not making me as alert as I'd anticipate ordinarily.

And all the while toying with the question of whether it is social divisions that are important or is the real issue whether or not we can move beyond these social divisions through social mobility?

I'm too exhausted to mentally attend to this.

Collision: The Young Knives- She's attracted to from Smile on Vimeo.

The Juan MacLean

My other half and I have been doing quite a bit of disco dancing around our house. Well - that is a lie - I have been dancing and then shouting demands that he join in.

You've got to command!

As sexy-voiced John MacLean would agree, no doubt. Or - if in fact he did disagree, then mother-fucking, fuck-me-I'm-sexy Nancy Whang would definitely agree.

I am addicted to disco "pow's". Fact.

If you've got a "pow", then you've got a fan!

The Juan MacLean - New Bot [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

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.

Must break tension..

Kelis — Acapella from Schmidtriy Zhopkinman on Vimeo.

I am won over.

M.I.A.

If you are of a slightly sensitive nature you may wish to carry on in blissful ignorance and not watch this very amazing video.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Romain Gavras is a pretty awesome video director. Certainly a man who does not do anything by halves and I imagine is quite intense. Also responsible for the Justice - Stress video - which I found made me not want to go to London for a while - he is a man of great talents.

On a different note... YEY! M.I.A. is back! I properly think she is a role model.