Beware! The Leopard

Friday Update

Well, another week has gone by.  I apologize for the lack of a Wednesday Project, but I suppose you could say that the reorganizing of this blog was a project that was posted on Wednesday :-)

Today is Friday, and the day that my muse arrives from Canada.  It's been a long six weeks, and I can't wait to show her everything I've learned about London. 

Musically, the band continues on in good shape.  We've got the structures of 3 songs down, and the promise of many more to come.  I've also got some good leads on where to play my solo stuff, so it is starting to come together.  There are also a ton of good shows coming to town in the coming weeks, Stars, Final Fantasy, Jesus and Mary Chain, the list goes on and on.  It is nice to live in a city that is a hotbed of cultural activity.

Not much else to report. Hopefully I'll be able to put some of my songs to tape for next Wednesday, I'll do my best.

Cheers,

S.

Maps

Maps - Mapsmusic

Straight of the bowels of Northampton comes Maps, a droney, smörgåsbord of sounds that are just utterly cool.  James Chapman is the brains behind this outfit.  In fact if you only listen to their recordings, then Chapman is the entire outfit.  He records all of Maps' music on a 16-track recorder at home.  While this is becoming more commonplace amongst electronic-based artists, the different instrumentations, textures and atmospheres that Chapman creates are incredibly lush and beautiful.  Obviously influenced by New Wave and its Shoegaze successors, Maps brings something new to the effects-laden table. 

Unlike many solo creators who choose to perform live with pre-recorded backing tracks, Chapman is joined on the road by a gaggle of worthy musicians who are keenly able to reproduce the recorded sound live, while at the same time adding their own particular elements to the live show. 

Maps are just hitting the upswing now, and their stuff is becoming increasingly difficult to procure in stores, so I suggest you go grab yourself one of their EPs before they're all gone.

Friday Update

Another week, another year.  I can't believe it's 2008 already.  I also can't believe that I'm living in London, but that's my own damn fault. 

Things are rolling along relatively smoothly until the glitch with the internet hookup in the new flat (as in I need to get it hooked up) put a damper on this week's progress.  Earlier this week I managed to pick up my music gear from the Air Canada Cargo terminal at Heathrow even if it cost me an addition 165 quid for the storage charges that nobody told me about (13.50 quid per day!).  Having the gear though makes the move seem more real, as now I can return to writing and recording on the piano. You can look forward to more Sancho Panza musical creations on Project Wednesdays now that I have my recording equipment. 

Recording also makes things so much easier with the band (tentatively called Ship of Fools).  We rehearsed yesterday for the first time since before Christmas, but were able to effectively jam out the song structure to 5 different songs in 3 hours.  We song write well together which is good. 

In addition, the brothers that run the studio where we jam need a sound engineer for occasional showcases they put on, so I offered myself and we'll see if that comes together.  It would be great to get the additional experience (plus the cash).  I'll keep you all posted.

So far 2008 is looking pretty good. Just have to keep up the momentum and not get bogged down in the day to day frustrations that dot this little island. 

Project Wednesday

This photo was taken on a cool Sunday afternoon in the Byward market.  Being a motorcycle enthusiast myself, I just had to take a quick shot of my brothers hanging out by their rides.

The National

The National

Homepage!

Not by any means a new band, the National have been producing albums for almost a decade.  However they have not earned the public or critical success that their reserved sound so richly deserves.  The National are unlike any rock band I've heard in the last decade.  Elements of Interpol mingle with piano forte, violin, and occasionally horns.  The fleshy baritone of lead singer Matt Berninger provides the lyrical poetry which drives the National.  Sometimes dark, sometimes sunny, the lyrics are exceptionally poignant while being at the same time exceptionally original, i.e. “I am a birthday candle in a circle of black girls”.

The National are currently touring down under, their latest offering “Boxer” is well worth picking up.  Highlights include “Racing like a pro” and “Squalor Victoria”.  I highly recommend checking them out.