Snipe Likes: Retro Stefson
Young Icelandic collective Retro Stefson embody the playful spirit, creativity and musical ability of many bands on the Reykjavik scene. A regular fixture at the Airwaves Festival, they put their stuff out on the more than ace Kimi label. Tzjek ‘it out.
13 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: PWL (Dreamtrak Remix)
Seeing as the Dreamtrak remix of Teeth we posted was so popular (12k plays in 5 days!) here’s another one, of Pagan Wanderer Lu this time. It’s a b-side from the single Banish Negative Thoughts, released digitally tomorrow. See him live at The Betsy Trotwood on Friday.
Help us spread the word: “heart” Snipe & this track on The Hype Machine.
Pagan Wanderer Lu – A Girl Named Aeroplane (DREAMTRAK DIAMOND SOUND) by brainlove
11 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: Ólöf Arnalds
Icelandic singer Ólöf Arnalds has one of those instantly recognisable, singular voices, like Vashti Bunyan or Nina Nastasia – a beautifully clear, fresh, honest sound that seems to blow negativity away from the mind. The new single Innundir Skinni is out now on One Little Indian, with an album of the same name due Sept 13th, and she supports Air tonight at the London Forum.
10 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: Grinderman
Nick Cave’s Grinderman have announced their second album, Grinderman 2, to be released on Mute this September 13th.
They play a headline show at Hammersmith Apollo on October 1st.
08 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: The Hundred In The Hands
Part of the new crop of Warp signings, ace NYC duo The Hundred In The Hands have been remixed by well-regarded Oxford indie band Foals, who make a good fist of a traditional 4×4 dance remix, complete with a funny feelgood breakdown section.
The Hundred In The Hands album is out in September, but if you can’t wait have a nose around on their Warp page for videos and streams and all that malarkey.
The Hundred In The Hands – Pigeons (Foals XIII Remix) by thehundredinthehands
07 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett
Final Fantasy, currently working under his given name Owen Pallett after becoming successful enough to pop up on Squaresoft’s radar in Japan, is nothing if not prolific.
This post brings together a couple of treasures that had a limited release. The internet has kind of killed off the notion of rarities, but these tracks should be in the collection of any Final Fantasy fan…
“The Butcher” was released between albums as part of the “Spectrum, 14th Century” EP. It’s a prime example of Pallett’s deft arrangements, lyrical imagination and compellingly plaintive delivery, beginning “Doomsday, the end of a century, in accord with prophecy…”
“Spell For a Weak Heart” came as part of the “Young Canadian Mothers” EP. I still find myself humming it and straining to remember where the song is from on a regular basis, a couple of years later…
Pallett’s newest album “Heartland” is a slow-burning masterpiece; the violinist who was introduced to the UK as a support act and strings player in The Arcade Fire has since eclipsed them with his consistently high-calibre output.
Including his (in)famous Mariah Carey cover…
Final Fantasy – The Butcher by snipelondon
Final Fantasy – Spell for a Weak Heart by snipelondon
Lewis Takes Off His Shirt from Owen Pallett on Vimeo.
06 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: The Swansea Recreation Centre
From amidst the hum of new-bands-on-the-internet, this gem of a song plops into our lap. They may have an unwieldy name, but in “Aquatic Finesse” The Swansea Recreation Centre have written a real keeper. From the same fuzzy territory as Broadcast or perhaps Electrelane, it builds beautifully to an indelibly catchy two and a half minute outro. Promising stuff.
They play at the Goonite club, at London’s Buffalo Bar, on July 21st.
02 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: Idaho
Everyone has bands they think should be much bigger. One of mine is Jeff Martin’s Idaho, who’ve never yet scaled the same heights of recognition and acclaim as slowcore contemporaries Red House Painters and Low, while being every bit as brilliant. 1995’s “This Way Out” is a thing of beauty – textured, distorted guitars and mumbled poetry create a downbeat sense of wonder. The production couldn’t be better, and songs like “Fuel” shift gear seamlessly from grungey rock-outs to swooning slide guitar breakdowns. This album sounds as perfect now as when I first heard it fifteen years ago, and it’s the perfect jumping off point into the rich, autumnal back catalogue of Idaho; with a new record promised in 2010, maybe there’s time for the world to catch on yet.
01 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: Plantagenet 3
Plantagenet 3 is amongst the first tracks we’ve had sent to us for inclusion in the Daily MPfrees. It’s a nice mash of reverb-laden guitars and minimal electronic drums that sounds like it could be a sketch for the a new XX song, but with a Tortoise-style post-rock inflection. Good stuff. Keep ‘em coming, guys!
01 Jul 2010
Snipe Likes: Everything Everything
Hot shit blogger’s favourite Everything Everything have released a new remix by Clock Opera, in which their hyper-tight guitar line is chopped up into a glitch-hop salad. Everything Everything’s razor-sharp pop sensibility survives being put through the remix blender; a jolly nice version, this.
The hotly anticipated album, “Man Alive”, is out on August 30th – there are signed copies for the first 100 pre-orders here.
30 Jun 2010
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
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- Nice Interactive timeline lets you follow Londoners' historic fight against racism
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- London has chosen its mayor, but why can’t it choose its own media?
- The best church names in London, and where they come from
- Only 16 commuters touch in to Emirates Air Line, figures reveal
- Number of people using Thames cable car plunges
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