This morning I’m the on-call nurse of a durty hangover. Scars of an epic night to mark my fond memories of Liverpool with some of the Picture Book boys along with Calum (Journals. LMM post to come soon. One seriously not to be missed. Seriously).

Another small detail the night marked, at least through conversation about potentiality on the near future, was a probable lengthy absenteeism from theMMM on my behalf following the end of this week. Before you begin to cast your “lazy, selfish bum just wants to go on vacay and not worry about his blog-brethren”, have a cucumber and chill, cause that’s not the deal. I have some pressing matters to tend to, which all in all will be rather helpful for theMMM’s future. So, as I my personal motto most often goes,

“S’all goood.”

Back to the music. What a better way to share the night with you than to pass on two of the fresh Chemical Brother’s jems from their latest album, Further; the first that started the night (Don’t be messing around with no half-assed sound system’s for this one. Make it go BOOM!), and the second that woke my corpse out of bed this morning and just so happens to be my track of choice from the album. By far my favorite for these times, and with the most pertinent set of haiku-like lyrics.

“Another world will surround me
Another heart will forgive
Another world will surround me “

Live in love peeps. Don’t wast your time on hateful energy, resentment or unnecessary dramas or pressures. As the closest person to me at the moment apart from my mama herself shared this piece of Max Erhmann wisdom with me, all I can say is ‘WORD’:

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”

Enjoy.

The Chemical Brothers – Escape Velocity

The Chemical Brothers – Another World

There aren’t many live sets that get me dancing frantically like I’m having a semi-controlled epileptic fit, but Picture Book’s new live set up is definitely one of them. Having caught me off guard about a month ago with this epic set, one tune and one cover were particularly responsible for my dance frenzy: their upcoming single Explosions and their own rendition of The Streets’ classic ‘Blinded By The Lights’.

Now, I must add, the Picture Book LMM has had a long time coming, but the ever-busy trio has been in the studio non-stop lately and it took some time to get the bits and bobs together. Notwithstanding party peeps, it’s here and it’s got its shit together. With an exclusive mini-mix by frantically ambient guitarist Lorne Ashley, aka Lord HighOwl (including both their encore Blinded By The Come To This and their new single Explosions, plus several other killer tunes) you’ll be able to get a general yet unsatisfying gist of what Picture Book’s DJ sets sound like. For those who are in the Liverpool area, and want the full experience and satisfaction, make your way down to The Magnet every thursday, and Centro L1 any friday or saturday to see the man in action. Also, Lord HighOwl, Rob Roberts (The band’s sound engineer) plus several other deck crafters including myself will be throwing down some chilled Sunday tunes, with terrace speakers giving Chevasse park the ambience it needs every sunday with the new series of Centro Sunday Sessions.

Picture Book is a unique electro/dance/pop/visual band originally based in Manchester, and recently moved straight into the heart of Liverpool’s local music scene. As for the band itself, they get their national identity from the Faroe Islands, New York and Manchester. Greta Svabo Bech’s vocals are hauntingly exotic, evoking emotions found in every nightlife as well as the deepest depths of the artist’s persona. Dario Darnell’s rhythmic sections are, well, insanely energetic, and get the dance floor starting friendly riots in festival grounds. And Lorne Ashley’s guitars sound far from a six string strummed instrument. Their extraterrestrial texture give the band’s sound that extra edge to take you away to that crazy place in space were the vocals come from.

We at TheMMM expect to see these guys take off and hit the space age highlights any time now. I personally find inspiration in what they do, and in hope that you will to, we manage to get a quick interview with the band to tell us a bit about where they’re coming from and where they’re going. Enjoy

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TheMMM – Why music and not another social medium of altering society?

Picture Book – Mainly because music is the way we most passionately and immediately feel able to communicate our creative expression. Its the most accessible tool to everyone, all ages, all social groups and all communities. Plus its fun!

T- Other bands such as Massive Attack use their visuals to portray a certain message about politics or society. Would you say you have a particular message to convey? Or just music and image for the beauty of what they are: Art stuffed through every sense possible ?

PB – This is a brilliant question! We think that music is what it is, if its to dance to great, if its to put the world to rights, thats cool too. We’re not here to tell you how to think, dress or act. We want to spread our message and emotions. if people want to read something into the lyrics + music, then thats their take on it, were not here to shatter that image. People always have their own personal interpretations on songs, we try to paint our canvasses deeply and we want people to take from it what they will.

T How do you guys go about writing a track? You seem to use programmed background tracks, but is the idea born there or does it surge from a vocal hook or imagined melody?

PB – A lot of our music is inspired by nature. Not all of it, of course, but most. Greta (lead vocals) is from the Faroe Islands, its a small Scandinavian country, which, according to the Faroese, is an epicentre of natures mysteries! This provides the fuel for Greta’s vocals, whereas, Dario and I use our transatlantic urban influences to counterpoint it.

T What equipment do you actually use, and what equipment would you like to be using if you had the budget of,say our man Prince, for example’s sake?

PB – Me and Dario use Ableton Live in the studio and on stage, along with my guitar which goes through Native Intrument’s Guitar Rig 4. Among a lot of other deeply technical stuff! Greta uses a lot of vocal effects live, doubled up with her violin. The percussion is standard. and I’ve just bought myself a beautiful cherry apple Jazzmaster that im very proud of.

T When do you plan on dropping your first EP? or LP perhaps?

PB – The first official Picture Book EP is currently being shaped actually! We have a few producers to meet yet, but everything will be all go by the end of the summer with a new EP and more touring to support it. Expect it to be larger than ever!

T You recently got to the top 20 in Hype Machine. How did that feel? What are your thoughts on the way music is disseminated these days over the interweb?

PB – It ended up at number 6, which was great to know that nearly 1000 people in just three days, heard it and enjoyed it. You have to embrace technology, its great that some kid in korea or downtown New York can instantly hear something you wrote the week before.

Its a contentious issue the whole giving a song away for free. That version of Sunshine was the very first draft of it, so what will ultimately come out will be different, but for a band in our position, it gets us out there instantly regardless of what version of the song it is!

We follow quite a few blogs, and that particular one was one we thought potential fans might be into. Pre the internet that level of interest would have taken months to achieve, if ever!

T If you could tour with any three bands at the moment, who would it be?

PB – Miike Snow (possibly the best debut album of the last couple of years), Deadmau5 and Greta would love to tour with IAMX or Bjork

T What is your absolute favorite thing about playing your music live?

PB – The energy. its like a drug. when you start to sweat and the crowd starts to ‘get it’ and move and dance and sweat with you. When they shout and cheer along with us (we shout and cheer at them a lot!!!) We treat our live shows like its the last gig on earth. Touring can really take it out of us!!

T What are your musical plans for the following year?

PB – Writing new songs. Getting the EP ready. and touring!!!! Thats our entire schedule! We are still in our very early days, there’s still a load of work to do! and a lot of fans to make!

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Also, catch the full band live with their next gig at The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool on the 29th of July, and Fieldview Festival on the 6th of August along with artists such as MC Xander.

For more on the band click here.

Lord HighOwl (Picture Book) – TheMMM Exclusive Mixtape

Picture Book – Explosions (Demo)

Bonus track: MC Xander – White Light

People are dramatic. No matter how hard anyone tries, either you’re the mastermind behind the fat drama-cloud lingering on a night out, or you’re the one disturbed yet entertained, watching likes one does all those useless reality TV shows. No diss Big Brother. Just saying.

Anyway, the juxtaposition of eery lyrics and melodic 80′s synths provided a great relief this morning. But this ambivalence remains: I had an awesome time, but as always, could have spared the drama.

“Sometimes, when all that’s lost remains
Drink from the fountain of youth and never age again
Sometimes we jump across to every cloud
Fly away get lost and never be found.”

Miami Horror – Sometimes (Universe Remix)

Kentucky. No, we’re not talking chicken here, but of a sick band of electro-dance dudes from Louisville. I’ve been hearing quite a bit of good remixes by them as well as their fresh originals, and this one stood out this past week.

Hussle Club, now based in NY, but home grown back in Louisville has quite a bit to offer as well. But it tends to be as fifty-fifty as marmite for some people. So go have a look for yourself. In the meantime, here’s a pretty awesome remix of Loos Tights. Enjoy.

Hussle Club – Loose Tights (VHS Or Beta Remix)

Breakbot has been drawing a Monet on the electro map this year. His single Baby I’m yours hit hard. And now, the remixes stir things up, left to right. Nothing like this scruffy french dude to bring fresh funk into a salad of electro indi delight. I’m particularly fond of Color Blaster’s remix of this song, just because of his amazing use of dynamics, and how well this tune mixes in on what I’ve been playing lately. The weather seems to be clearing up these next few days here in Liverpool, and Siruismo’s remix is exactly what I want to be listing to at my next Abercrombie Square barbecue. I’m also adding Adam Smith’s remixes as well. This one hits the high bumps we all ache for when pre-drinking at our venue of choice. And as a little extra, respecting the limits of relevance, here’s Breakbot’s remix of Sneaky Sound System’s When We Were Young.

“Tchuuuune.”

Enjoy.

Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours (Color Blaster Remix)

Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours (Siruismo Remix)

Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours (Adam Smith)

Bonus Track: Sneaky Sound System – When We Where Young (Breakbot Remix)

As you can imagine, I’ve been far from the digital world for one day too many. As I got a bit of time to access the WWWorld, I came back to a saturated inbox. Amongst that inbox I found this. Perfect for my state of mind. I’ve missed simple thin-rock for too long now. Enjoy

“Yesterday the sky was cold and grey.
It kept me as a prisoner in my home,
prowled through my door when I was all alone.”

Crocodiles – Sleep Forever

Crocodiles – I wanna Kill

As they hit up their first date on their European tour, the Glitch Mob gig at Sound Control in Manchester on the 9th of this month just keeps getting closer. And to hear of the earlobes for this one, they’ve been generous once more and released edIT’s hectic tune Pound 4 Pound for temporary free download, and to top it off, they’ve put out a podcast with a dopest playlist of some of their favorite tunes. So here it is. Enjoy. And if you’re in the area, see you at Sound Control for some hardcore tunage.

edIT – Pound 4 Pound

The Glitch Mob Top-Tune Podcast

So, Picture Book still owes me a few details to be used on their LMM post, now to be encore une fois postponed to next week. But fret not, for I just came back from picking up a dear friend of mine visiting from London, and he comes bearing good tunes. Parov Stelar is an Austrian DJ/Sound Engineer backed up by the seriously jazzy swing gang The Parov Stelar Band.

One of many things Chris and I have spoken of is the way two friends, if true in essence of relationship, no matter how long they’ve parted way for, they will never lose that which they have had and always will have in common. On that note, we popped a pair of Tuborg open and started to share some tunes. Here’s one of them. All there’s left to do tonight is papaParty. Enjoy.

Parov Stelar – Libella Swing

Parov Stelar – Catgroove (Doc-Terry Video Remix)

So, I had a bit of a poker night with the boys and came in runner up. Tasted the money just for it to be pulled away by Dr. Pokerface. No worries, I left the house with a great new discovery. Some may say I took a while to catch up on this, but in any case, this mashup is tasty. I’m running busy again, so I’ll leave you with the goods and cut short the BS. Enjoy.

Radiohead Vs Dave Brubeck – Five Step (Overdub Bootleg)

Every now and then I hear an awesome rendition of Billie Jean, but this one takes the cake in terms of originality for me. Check it out. Read more about Canadian truth-seeking gypsy Scott Dunbar at his wordpress page. Enjoy.

Scott Dunbar One Man Band – Billie Jean (Michael Jackson live cover)