Evenin’ all.

Once again we, over at the ever-grateful TWR, are taking advantage of Toad’s generous offer to host our nonsense on the hallowed pages of  S,bT while we negotiate a permanent home for the radio show.

For those of you who give even the slightest hint of a toss, we’re currently talking to a number of very interesting (& interested) proper professional radio stations, here in the UK & the US.   We should be in a position to make an informed decision early part of January ’09.  Until then we’re taking a bit of a break from the ‘on air’ chaos &  are instead just podcasting each week’s outing.  Essentially it’s a busman’s holiday.

This week we have the pleasure of introducing to you, the Listening Few, the following sweetness: Mother Mother, The Duchess & The Duke, Arthur Adams, Blitzen Trapper, Tom Williams & The Boat, Michael Bach, Rags & Feathers, The Tallest Man on Earth, Jay Jay Pistolet, Fredrik, Eagleowl, Francis + the now expected many much so more.

The Theme Tune Competition is still running, as are competitions for the Sŵn bundle of goodies, the Ida Maria/V.V. Brown bundle, as well as the  The Kabeedies/Tim & Sam’s the Tim & Sam Band with Tim & Sam/Pelle Carlberg/Lucky Delucci bundle.  Free stuff, effectively, for the sake of an email.

Tune in, then, you.

The Waiting Room: 10th December 2008

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

There’s an intriguing wee scene blossoming down in London around a little indie label called Chess Club Records. Toadfans may well have encountered them already as they’re home to the magnificient Mumford & Sons, who have been received favourably here at Toad HQ both live and on record.

They also look after the affairs of one Justin Hayward-Young, who apparently shares a house with Marcus Mumford, and records under the rockiest of rock’n'roll monikers; Jay Jay Pistolet. His star seems to be on the rise following last year’s release, on Chess Club, of a single called We Are Free, which has been attracting mainstream attention. Jay Jay Pistolet has a lighter, more whimsical style than the thrills and drama of the Mumford boys, but I’m liking what I’m hearing. The two acts share common ground in the deft instrumental work and imaginative arrangements.

The label’s latest release is in less of an acoustic vein. Released on Monday, Australian band Ghostwood’s debut UK single, Red Version, is taken from an eponymous EP that’s already been on release down under, and which seems to have gone down reasonably well with our colonial cousins. They have the sort of epic mid-80s sound that evokes early Cure and U2, which means you’ve already decided whether you’re going to like it or not just upon reading that. It’s certainly a well-worn furrow they’re ploughing, but they could find a healthy market slipstreaming the success of bands like Bloc Party and Maximo Park.

So, interesting times down at the Chess Club. It looks like they’re putting a lot of hard work into finding unusual new acts to promote, and seem to be refreshingly allergic to anything too mainstream. That’s something to be commended if you ask me, and enthusiatically supported. I definitely think this little label are worth keeping a close eye on.

Mumford & Sons – Roll Away Your Stone
Jay Jay Pistolet – We Are Free
Ghostwood – Red Version

Website | MySpace