Yesterday I was sent a link to Motorcycle Display Team’s new album, Captatio Benevolentiae (which according to lead singer Steven Hinds is a term in rhetoric to describe the opening salvo of a public address intended to win over an audience).
It’s interesting for me to listen to it because MDT’s stuff doesn’t fall necessarily into any of the genres I listen to on a regular basis.
I sent them this via email: “My take is that you guys have a touch of the Black Keys, with some of The Drums thrown in and a touch of Two Door Cinema Club in the vocals.”
Betweenager is my personal favourite (first single for sure). In fact, I love the guitar hook on it and I prefer their tracks that – like that one- are a little more up-tempo and current.
Listen to the full album here, or hit play on the link below to listen to Betweenager.
Last night I went to the Royal Albert Hall as a very lucky guest of DWPub’s Daryl Willcox and his partner Rachel Fielding.
We were there to see recently reformed Orbital, a.k.a. the group that got me into dance music. Be still my beating heart.
I can remember the exact moment I fell in love with dance actually. It was 1995, I was watching the start of a film called ‘Hackers’, and this happened…
The rest of the movie was entertaining enough to earn a spot in my all-time top ten favourite films ever, in the world, ever (it’s still there) – but it took me a while to work out that the track was Halcyon by Orbital.
There was no Shazam, in fact, I didn’t even own a phone – nor iTunes or Amazon to look up the soundtrack.
Eventually I found it though, and listened to religiously. Over the years Orbital has remixed the track to include samples from You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi, Heaven Is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle, and most recently I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. We were treated to the first two last night.
Warm-up The Japanese Popstars were also thoroughly enjoyable, and sounded a lot like… Orbital. Figures.
The venue was wonderful, and Orbital delivered a near-perfect set filled with classics (finishing with Chime, of course) mixed with new material from their NEW ALBUM Wonky. Released just a few weeks ago.
Last summer I saw Underworld play Sonar in Barcelona. The crowd was filled with hardcore fans, and that feeling of reclaimed belonging powered their pogoing frenzy. There was no ‘new’, but Underworld held court, their fans fuelled by nostalgia.
Orbital holds a similar place in the heart of an old school raver, but the duo has managed to do the unthinkable – retain credibility, release new material and remain one of the best dance acts in the world. I’m chuffed to bits that I got to see them in such a setting. Â Thanks Daryl 🙂
Yep, Bob Marley’s son’s coffee brand is coming to the UK.
As says Brand Republic:
“The brand is called Marley Coffee and it will be sold in three organic blends: One Love medium roast; Buffalo Soldier dark roast; and Lively Up! espresso. A Jamaica Blue Mountain variant will also be available.”
