That Metronomy Song is Really Good

So about 2 weeks ago, Metronomy put the video for their new song ‘She Wants’ on the internet. I didn’t post about it on the day because this blog isn’t about posting the latest song that this band or that one has just uploaded. This blog is about taking the time to actually really listen to the track and give you a stupid review about it. Isn’t that why you’re here?

So, yeah that Metronomy song. The first time, I was like “hum I don’t really like the intro but that chorus could be a grower”. By the second time I heard it, I was obsessed. But still, I thought “hum maybe it’s one of these songs I’ll get really obsessed with for a week and then forget about it”.
I have listened to ‘She Wants’ every day since and that’s because it’s a really good song! It’s one of these delicious songs that I categorize as “pop douce” which vaguely translates as “sweet pop” – one of these songs that are so nice to listen that you feel like a circle of mini-polar bears are around your head and hugging you.

Fox of the week.

John Gorham - ‘I hate the idea of being old-fashioned, or new-fashioned’

We were recently pointed in the direction of John Gorham (by Joseph Mount of Metronomy via graphic design agency Johnson Banks) on the announcement of the artwork for the new Metronomy album, The English Riviera.

Gorham was at any one time a designer, typographer and illustrator with a particularly strong and identifiable output in the 70s and 80s, dying in an untimely fashion in 2001. It seems he was held in very high regard by his peers, but that he was one of those who decides to shun the seemingly obvious route - in his case not going into partnerships or big company work. He mentioned at one point that ‘I hate the idea of being old-fashioned, or new-fashioned’, which resonates when you look at what he left behind, with the theme of re-invention standing out in his work.

Two other stand-out projects Gorham worked on are the Lion Bar wrapper, which when it came out in 1970 apparently made the chocolate bar look exceptionally luxurious, something that's a little hard to comprehend these days, although it is indeed a delicious hunk of sugary goodness.

Another project that stands out is a series of pub signs he designed for commercial signage company Wood and Wood in the late 70s and early 80s. This series isn't a million miles away from the stamps Gorham also designed including for Second World War commemorations, Christmas 1990 and the Queen Mother's 90th Birthday. These pub signs look quite a lot like very fun stamps, with attention to detail, image spacing, typography and colour that are exquisite.





from under spinning lights by Downliners Sekt

La Boulangerie, Paris

This should have a sub-heading - it's not a boulangerie.

The bistrot La Boulangerie is found in a slightly odd part of Paris, Menilmontant, that as far as I can tell has on one side Pere la Chaise cemetery, and on the other the hill that goes up towards Belleville. In between there's the usual hubub of local markets on the main stretch, some ropey looking eateries and a pretty rad cafe / bar I hung out in where the guys were caning the pastis nice and early, lunch-time style.

This place looks the business - intricate mosaic tiling, attention to detail from the quality of the bread to their ace knives. Yeah, the knives. The owner looks like he eats at the restaurant, in a good way, and essentially would fill the role of, say, a Parisian bistrot owner perfectly in a Hollywood film.

Anyway, the lunchtime menu @ 14 euros for two courses, @ 17 euros for three:

Entrees
Rillettes maison de canard des Landes
Carpaccio de maigre*

Plats
Palette de porc 'noir de Bigorre' braisee*
Pave de saumon d'Ecosse a l'estragon

Desserts
Pithiviers
Blanc manger coco

* - what I rolled up for...

I went for the maigre (white fish) which was a really clean, light, yum starter. Then the main course, the sexy palette which is basically like a souped-up pork chop served with dauphinoise and a densely flavourful dark sauce. This was the ultimate winner, and although it was manged fully two weeks ago now, is still very fresh in the memory.

I'm not going to bore you with loads of detail - all I'll say is if you're in Paris, looking for some French food at a reasonable price (lunchtime is best for the menus), you could do a lot worse than to head over here for a great experience.

La Boulangerie
15 rue des Panoyaux 75020 Paris
01 43 58 45 45
Open every day except Saturday lunch and Sunday.

Bonobo Feat. DELS & Andreya Triana 'Eyesdown' (REVOX) by DELS

Plug in to Plug

Photo: Life

The first time I saw Plug was 2 years ago in a basement in Stoke Newington (or maybe it was Dalston, anyway somewhere in Hackney, you get the point) in one of those gigs where you think “wow this is great but I could also die very easily here”. In fact, being 5”1 (like Lady Gaga, thanks Smash Hits Special), I was the only person able to stand in that basement as the ceiling was so low.
I had never heard of Plug and I immediately fell in love with them. Their minimal sound, with repetitive melodies and this sharp voice were absolutely brilliant.
Of course, they signed with Upset The Rhythm, and their first album, despite being the worst artwork of the year, is equally brilliant. If you’re in your January period of “listening to the bands I’ve missed in 2010”, Plug should be your new priority.

Plug - Body Story by be-bop-kids

Rounding that badboy up...

The final instalment of our 2010 top 5s, I'm (Ben) personally going to bore you. ARE YOU READY?

2010 was pretty cool, things I remember off the top of my head are: I got kicked out of my house by my landlord, my girlfriend moved to Berlin, I saw some great gigs and got to know loads of ace new music thanks to work, friends and an appetite for sifting through shit music.

1) Deutschewurstweltmeisterschaft - God knows I must have spelt that wrong, but who cares: you present me with 25 butchers fighting it out in Berlin to become the WORLD SAUSAGE CHAMP + lovely April weather + loads of delicious beer... Need I say more? Well I probably do - my favourite was the Chili Con Carne wurst, I think the Wasabiwurst won...
2) James Nash - illustrator extraodinaire, a bit of a hero.
3) The Wappio - a drink concoted by my flatmate Rob, which has accompanied us to a world of pain on too many an occasion to mention. Let me summarise the ingredients: close your eyes, pick three bottles, pour into a glass. Et voila. Yuuuummmm.
4) Offset Festival, specifically Not Cool, Team Ghost, Kap Bambino and Art Brut, for old times sake.
5) iPhone 4 - I feel like a massive loser for saying that, but hell, what a piece of kit.

Retired to Stud by Not Cool

Come in Cecile - Cecile come in!

Over 4 days we're subjecting you to our top 5's of 2010. Badman. Here's Cecile's entry...

2010 was a pretty sweet year: lots of very good gigs and festivals and nice holidays, which is always a bonus. It was also my "officially becoming an adult year" I think because I spent £500 on a sofa, but that was okay too. Whatever, I still enjoy listening to Nirvana, Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins like the angry teenager that I was. My #1 is going back to New York because I got to see my friends there, go to lovely museums, find records in Soundfix, hang out in Brooklyn but mainly eating LOTS of amazing brunches and go back to Benny's Burritos, which is my favourite restaurant ever.

1/ Going back to NYC on holidays
2/ The opening of Chipotle in London
3/ Seeing Lady Gaga at the O2
4/ My first Glastonbury
5/ Watching the foxes running in the snow in the Victoria Park at night

Territorial Pissings by Nirvana

It's Lucy's turn...

For four days we're going over our top 5s for 2010 - today, number two in the series Lucy takes the helm:

2010 was a pretty awesome 365 days, especially for gigs and festivals. I wasn't into so many albums this year, unlike last year which had some real corkers, but there have been loads of top tracks (I heart Rihanna 'Only Girl') and other non-music excitement to keep me going. Here are my tops:

Glastonbury! A super hot weekend seemed to put everyone in a good mood, the resulting merry atmosphere was the perfect backdrop for some top acts. My fave Pyramid stage performance was Shakira who entertained us with hits such as She Wolf and an unexpected XX cover - awoo! The XX at night was incredibly atmospheric and kept us mesmerised throughout. On Saturday night Sexy Sushi were equally captivating but for totally opposite reasons with their racuous electro performance on the Hub stage in Shangri-la: Rebekka Warrior whipped us up with her playful, provocative performance. Catch them if you can!

Photography exhibition in Arles - Les Rencontres d'Arles. Highlights included Christian Marclay's 'Crossfire', Taryn Simon's 'The Innocents' and 'I am a cliché' - echoes of the punk aesthetic

Visiting New York for the first time - best moment was a Todd P gig featuring The Babies in an abandoned flat in an old Williamsburg warehouse

Reading Roberto Bolano's 'The Savage Detectives'

Live episode of Eastenders

Shakira - Islands by Shakira / The XX