Anyone who’s around me at the moment knows that I’ve become a very big fan of Four Tet (aka Kieran Hebden). He’s got a unique, warm approach to electronically assembled music which is glitchy yet earthy at the same time. He uses strong beats with rather organic subtleties, and then layers upon layers of real instrument samples – everything from acoustic guitars to banjos to rubber duckies (!)

In particular, I’m becoming quite partial to Rounds, his third album, but Pause is an excellent listen as well. I’m yet to pick up his latest – Everything Ecstatic – but judging from the tracks he played live when I went to see him at Hyde Park Barracks a couple of months ago, it’s another solid release.

Speaking of Four Tet live, Kieran has released the mp3s for a recording that was done of his Melbourne show on his web site. Apparently they’ll only be online for a limited time, but I very much recommend you go check them out – it’s a great taste of what the guy’s into. Live, he’s very quirky and occasionally dips into what some people (including those that were with me at his live gig) would call ‘just noise’, but the tunes are there, and you’ll get a taste of the way he improvises live as well. Enjoy!

There’s always some little horror lurking in a great moment of history…

… like that oh-my-goodness-it’s-so-bad-it’s-nearly-funny snare drum ring on 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 by Midnight Oil

Nick and Rob, how on earth did that make it in to the mix?

Alright, I’ll put my headphones back on and shut up…

Thankyou to uber music scout Micky.

Nothing more to say kids – go listen to the new track and then we can all eagerly await May for more tasty aural delights from the ‘mez.

Who’s up for the solo Ian Ball date at the Hopetoun?

I found this article ages ago and absolutely loved it. Tom Petty has never been one to simmer quietly in the background, but he doesn’t just unleash rubbish when he’s frustrated by something: there’s some thought behind these statements despite their rather abrupt tone.

It varies in topic, some quite closely related to the music industry, others fairly broadly about popular culture. See what you think for yourself, I’d be interested in hearing your comments.

TEN REASONS WHY TOM PETTY IS [...] ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS

The man who told the world “I Won’t Back Down,” “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Don’t Come Around Here No More” doesn’t need any assertiveness-training course. Tom Petty’s determined, sometimes defiant attitude has collided with the music business throughout the years. For instance, in 1982 Petty recorded Hard Promises with the Heartbreakers, only to find that his then-record company had plans to use his name to initiate a new, higher $9.98 list price for albums. Petty withheld the tapes and threatened to retitle his record $8.98 in protest. That same spirit is alive and well on Petty’s latest album, The Last DJ, which takes a hard look at the lack of moral grounding in the music business. The title track has kicked up considerable controversy, with some radio stations seeing the song as a slap in the face and banning it. But Petty is not just biting the hand that feeds him. Music is only the beginning of what’s [...]ing him off these days. “The Last DJ is a story about morals more than the music business,” he says. “It’s really about vanishing personal freedoms.”

Update: I didn’t realise the article was still in print online. You can head over and read it here. Minor language warning, kids.

I’ve been a casual fan of Imogen Heap for ages. Well, since 2002 or something anyway. Which was kind of funny, because I’d be singing her praises for ages, and then suddenly everyone saw Garden State and went off shouting “Frou Frou!” (her side project with Guy Sigsworth), and subsequently watched the OC [not linking to that] and Narnia and raved about Imogen Heap.

Anyway, the saddest bit about all of this is that Heapy’s label sank not that long after her (brilliant) debut album was released, i Megaphone. Which means the album has been out of print for a long time, which means that it’s been harder than usual to find.

Fortunately, I found me a copy in Australia on eBay, which I have now bought and which is on its way to me as we speak. Yay!

If you see the disc around, just buy it. Don’t wait to read some reviews or sample some tracks – it’s good, I can vouch for that. And you probably won’t see it again.

Also look out for her sophomore release, titled ‘Speak For Yourself’, featuring many more Heapyisms, and released independantly so as to avoid future disappearing acts!