Song, by Toad

Well, perhaps Europop isn’t quite the right term. Eurindie perhaps. This podcast is stuffed full of splendid tracks from the rest of the European continent which we, as marvellously parochial and narrow-minded Brits, seem to forget exists half the time.

I have no real idea how much this music actually intersects with any of the local scenes to which it might belong, but it is certainly nicely in tune with the British scene as I know it at the moment. Scandinavia is inevitably rather over-represented, but I have managed to track down a Belgian, a little Dutch and something (tangentially) Italian to throw into the mix as well. And a special secret bonus surprise for right at the end, but wait for it patiently and don’t ruin it for yourselves by peeking.

The big thing I can’t get over is just how much I had to leave out of this podcast actually. I’d lazily assumed that it might be a little tricky to fill an entire playlist, but I could just as easily have filled two. So don’t whinge about what’s not on there, because I know, I know!

Toadcast #27 – Europop

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01. The Divine Comedy – Europop (00.06)
02. Mikrofisch – The Kids Are All Shite (05.52)
03. A Classic Education – Stay, Son (10.40)
04. Wolfkin – These Are Illusions (14.14)
05. Tafra – Cheesy Epic View (19.47)
06. Kottarashky – Chetiri (21.32)
07. Teitur – Catherine the Waitress (29.40)
08. Jens Lekman – No Time For Breaking Up (35.44)
09. Shout Out Louds – Parents’ Living Room (40.01)
10. The Tellers – Hugo (45.34)
11. Cats on Fire – Born Again Christian (49.47)
12. Yann Tiersen – Ginette (57.21)
13. Air – Alpha Beta Gaga (61.44)
14. The Raveonettes – That Great Love Sound (70.33)
15. Die Ärzte – Quark (73.41)
16. Bettie Serveert – I’ll Keep it With Mine (77.19)
17. Snake & Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band – Doom City (82.46)
18. Röyksopp – Remind Me (87.36)
19. Sigur Rós – Untitled (Álafoss) (90.50)
20. Snapline – S2 (102.59)

And here are a couple of songs which didn’t quite make the cut:
Teitur – We Still Drink the Same Water
The Teenagers – French Kiss
The Raveonettes – Here Comes Mary
Blood Music – Eagles in the Water
Hello Saferide – If I Don’t Write This Song Someone I Love Will Die
Tafra – I’m Sorry Brakne-Hoby

Please, please do not ask me how I come to be writing about a label-less Bulgarian dance act.  Please don’t even ask me why I don’t hate this music either, because I somehow feel that it ticks absolutely none of my boxes.  I really, really bloody like it though.  Maybe it’s because I have nothing similar with which to compare it, but for some reason the combination of the familiar dance beat, the vocals which border on the Arabic style and the Eastern European folk instrumentation really do it for me.

Maybe that’s the key actually, the Eastern European folky side.  It’s pretty prominent in this music and I am just a dead sucker for those quavering reed instruments and frantic fiddles.   There’s a part of Eastern Europe where the musical styles begin to mix with the Middle East and it’s a sound I find really appealing.  This music contains all of that, with a good solid beat anchoring it all down into something that is familiar enough that I found it really easy to get into.  Bloody marvellous, somewhat surprisingly.  I may be getting cool in my old age.*

Kottarashky – Blatoto
Kottarashky – Myanmar

Kottarashky on MySpace

*Don’t worry, even I’m not deluded enough to think this is true.

As an adjunct to my other post about being well and truly ready to finish for Christmas and basically being unable to concentrate at work, I thought I’d let you know what I actually am spending my time doing: Toad sketches!  How come I can concentrate on these but not real work?  Well these are fun and something new and for me, I suppose.  And when I am supposed to be doing something sensible it’s surprising how fascinating even the silliest things can become.   Anyway, I’ve not coloured them in yet, but I thought I’d share these with you because I am finding this all rather enjoyable.

1. Toad playing with his records:

2. Toad has an accident with his gramophone.

3. Toad opens his Christmas present.

4. Toad makes time for his nearest and dearest.

5. Toad gazes rapturously at a picture of the lovely Mrs. Toad.

See, told you I’d been wasting my time.  Actually, I did most of those yesterday evening anyway, so it’s not too bad.  I quite like these though, now I just have to find a way to integrate them into the site.  Official Song, by Toad wallpaper anyone?

A couple of recent MySpace discoveries, with happy links:

Maxwell Panther I know I’ve only just posted about him, but I am really, really liking his rough demos.  There’s a really satisfying grumble to them, and the songs are superb.
Maxwell Panther – Down and Insideout

Jake Flowers You might remember my review of his EP with the Carol-Anne Showband earlier this year.  Well I loved that and by the sounds of it I am going to love his new EP Fireworks, which will be available in the new year.
Jake Flowers – There’s a Storm Coming

The Low Miffs Only just found out about these guys today, but they’ve got some Drowned in Sound love and been on Vic Galloway, so I appear to be a little slow once more.  Good though.
The Low Miffs – Cressida

Kottarashky Bulgarian dance music.  I kind of like this.  I have no idea why, because it really isn’t my kind of music, but it’s pretty cool I think you’ll agree. The mix of traditonal music with the dance stuff rather does it for me.
Kottarashky – Chetiri