The sound of the underground

MC Pitman - Pitman Says
Mc Pitman on the Giles Peterson show

Have you ever thought The Streets were just too mainstream and polished? - then MC Pitman is for you. The foul mouthed tea and biscuits obsessed northern ex-miner raps about "proper tea the way it should be" - and a good plate of chips and beans. Is he real? Is it all just an elaborate joke? Well it's up to you and if you want to believe...

Pitman on tea: "On average I drink about ten cups of tea a day, I just like tea, biscuits come as a bonus to enhance the tea experience, people can relate to a good cup of tea, it's what we do, unless you're a coffee twat"

Pitman on derelict mines: "We should use closed mines as nightclubs. To get in the club you have to be dirty - there would be no alcohol served, just tea. Bring your own biscuits 'cause you can't have mine"

Pitman on why he releases 7" singles: “Seven inch records fit in my work bag better than 12's. A flask, pack of biscuits and some wax, and soap.”

Good old Sunday morning, bells are ringing everywhere

The Allman Brothers Band - Blue Sky

Well, I heard this tune for the very first time today, and I thought I'd break with LTW tradition (such as it is) by posting a bona-fide Country Rock classic...I figure if I've never heard it before, lots of other people won't either. I came across it thanks to a random torrent, a collection of someone's idea of the 100 greatest guitar solos ever (bt client of some kind required if you're interested). Most famous here for the Top Gear tune, the Allman Brother's Band are new to me, but very much not new...and this lovely laid back love song is perfect for anyone who's up for a bit o' middle-of-the-road class...

Who says we don't cater to all tastes?

Meet Mystery Meat

Mystery Meat - Kiss All My Lurid Elements (Demo)

The demise of Ikara Colt has left a gaping hole in my musical heart. Who will fill the gap? Step forward Mystery Meat.

Former Colt bass goddess Tracy Bellaries has been quick off the mark and has formed a new band called Mystery Meat ALREADY! Her partners in crime are none other than Ciaran AKA Simple Kid and Alex, ex singer from the Blood Valley/Blood Group. They're gigging around London at the moment and in the process of recording some demos and stuff.

It seems that Ikara Colt singer Paul and guitarist Clare may still be working together along with former bassist Jon. The whereabouts of drummer Dom is as yet unknown, but my indie rock information gathering pigeons are on the case!

This track is scuzzy and more punky than Ikara Colt. Of course it is very raw and rough because they've literally only been together for a few months.

If you are in London, you can see then on March 25th @ Dirty Water Club. The rest of us will have to wait a little bit longer.

Update: Mystery Meat are playing at Nottingham Social on Sunday April 17th supporting Lost Sounds.

Om Niwais Shiva

Mahadeva - Astral Projection

Isn't it about time Louder than War jumped up and down and threw its hands in the air? I think it is, and what better way to do it than with a bit of Israeli psychadelic trance from nearly 10 years ago...

I don't know anything about this tune or the artists really, just that I really really really dig it, and it makes me want to dance around...I stumbled across it back in the Kazaalite days (it seems so long ago now...) and every so often am compelled to play it quite loud and throw shapes (by which I mean use my hands to make shapes in the air in front of me, not throw children's geometric toys around...) If I still went out "raving" as we called it in my day, this is the kind of thing I'd like the dj to play. (This and some nice progressive drum and bass , of which the beautiful Tokyo Dawn by Doc Scott is a fine example...)

And if that's not your bag, or it is and you just want to relax afterwards how about some nice geetar playing inna folk music stylee (Davy Graham and Alexis Korner - 3/4 AD)

Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole

Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole

Martha Wainwright - Factory

Here's a sobering tale - if you're a parent and you unavoidably have to upset/mistreat/neglect/leave your child, make sure that said child isn't going to one day turn into a beautifully outspoken and talented singer/song-writer on a mission to dispel all crap from her childhood and challenge all adulthood demons. If this happens, you may find yourself in the position that famous folk musician Louden Wainwright III now finds himself in as the subject of daughter, Martha's brilliant 2004 track, 'Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole'. If only he'd got her the pony - things could've been so different. Trivialising powerful emotion aside - what I really wanted to say is that this woman is pretty amazing. Her voice and lyrics on this track give you goosebumps and grip you in a fury usually reserved for ex lovers, traffic wardens and photography tutors (a slightly personal one that last one..) I'd feel sorry for the guy if I didn't completely understand the difficult relationship between father and daughter only too well myself.

So where might you have heard her before? Well, Martha is part of a musical family - younger sister of Rufus Wainwright and daughter of folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Louden Wainwright III. She often sang with her mother and aunt but it was whilst singing backing vocals for her brother and witnessing the adoration he received that she decided that she wanted a piece of this for herself. She wrote her first song at the age of 18, now 28 - it's about bloody time she got some recognition. She has a similar passion to that of recent Louder Than War recommended artists, Carina Round and Ruth Theodore but there is also a hint of a sixties protest singer in her voice. There is definitely beauty in her honesty, whether the subject matter is pleasant or not. Anyone who went to see recent Hollywood epic The Aviator may have seen her singing 'Ill Be Seeing You' by Bing Crosby in one scene.

Martha is on tour in the UK until May, calling in at all the important places, for more details visit
her official website. Her self-titled debut album is out on 4th April but the single, 'Factory' is available on 21st March - both on Drowned In Sound. Also available over here is the 'Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole' EP, released in November last year.