The ADN Project

Lost Album of 2010: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Before Today

2011-01-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

Oh did we miss Ariel Pink and his Haunted Graffiti from our Best Albums of 2010 submission!!

Released June 8th 2010 on 4AD Records, Ariel finally released his much awaited and critically acclaimed ninth album; yet peculiarly soon to be found at the bottom of the iTunes bargain bucket? It's true to say that Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti may be more well known in The States and his fleeting European summer tour to promote 'Before Today' may not have done this album justice.

So here we are to lavish it with praise! This album was born in Cali with it's Psychedelic, lo-fi, LA cool and it's a smooth ride of rock n'roll tribute cast in an 80's era. 'Bright Lit Blue Skies' and 'Beverly Kills' provide classy 80's pop tribute whilst Number 1 Single of 2010 (as voted by Pitchfork) 'Round and Round' is five minutes of endlessly replayable circular bassline cool.

See below. And why not make a belated purchase you crazy, crazy cats.

Find more artists like Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti at Myspace Music

ADN's Albums of 2010

2010-12-12T06:28:00.001-08:00

Many music fans this year would argue that 2010 was somewhat baron by way of new and exciting alternative music. We here at ADN would beg to differ. 2010 bought new sounds, new releases from some reputable acts and some fantastic LP's from breakthrough artists across several genres.

There are some notable omissions from ADN's list this year, bands such as Kings of Leon (with their lackluster music machine reproduction of classic rock 'Come Around Sundown') and Interpol (with their bizarrely self entitled fourth album a throwaway chart attempt) not making the shortlist let alone the top ten. And we feel that this is a sure sign that there is some alternative out there to the global X-Factor freight train that seems to be steamrolling it's way through popular culture, destroying anything and everything original in it's wake. We'd like to doff our caps to those truly innovative music makers out there who have wowed us this year. It was difficult putting together a top ten of 2010 and hats off also to those bands shortlisted here.

The National take the plaudits but we at ADN hope that if you haven't already, you'll give some of these bands a shot - they represent the way forward for creative, forward thinking, original music, which is why we felt we should share it with you.

1) The National - High Violet

The National - Anyone's Ghost by musicmule

2) Foals - Total Life Forever

Total Life Forever by subpop

3) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs by We Talk Music

4) Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws

"Rinse Me Down" by Bombay Bicycle Club by rrobles

5) Beach House - Teen Dream

Beach House - Zebra by mattpoco

6) Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt by samhal

7) Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms by joejune

8) Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

Basement Scene, Deerhunter by myloverarlo

9) Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks

Frightened Rabbit - The Loneliness And The Scream by pickupdois

10) The Drums - The Drums

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing by downtownmusic

Other notable efforts!

The Kissaway Trail - Sleep Mountain, Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo, These New Puritans - Hidden, Yeasayer - Odd Blood, Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History, Sleigh Bells - Treats, LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening, Pulled Apart By Horses - Pulled Apart By Horses, The Black Keys - Brothers

Bombay Bicycle Club at QEH (4/11)

2010-12-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

Having travelled the length of frozen Britain, Saturday saw a determined Bombay Bicycle Club putting on a gig to remember on the way to concluding a successful winter tour.

Showcasing acclaimed 2010 album 'Flaws' BBC have come a long way since leaving school but two years ago and with the exception of John Martyn and Joanna Newsome covers 'Fairytale Lullaby' and 'Swansea', 'Flaws' is a masterful piece of Jack Steadman songwriting. And this performance was one to be remembered.

In the summer of last year, BBC won our hearts with debut album 'I Had The Blues...'. This year they made a top ten LP with Flaws. And in Steadman they doubtless have someone who's music we'll be braving the cold to go and see for years to come. Have a listen below if you don't fancy the trip over the pond for next year's upcoming US tour!

"Rinse Me Down" by Bombay Bicycle Club by rrobles

Check em here: Bombay Bicycle Club

Blitzen Trapper - The Tree (Single Release)

2010-11-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

We here at the ADN Project like a bit of US alt-folk and Blitzen Trapper have been one of our favourites for a while now. We can't wait to see them this Wednesday (24th November) at The Relentless Garage in Highbury as they support the release of their new single 'The Tree'. Recorded with folkstress Alela Diane, it's a lovely ballad. We suggest you think about a purchase, check it out here:

TOMS :: Blitzen Trapper :: The Tree (feat. Alela Diane) by TOMSshoes

Tickets for Garage gig: SeeTickets

Blitzen Trapper: Blitzen Trapper

Adverts = Money... and sometimes some cool music...

2010-10-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

We Heart - Music Vid Classic: Of Montreal - An Eluardian Instance

2010-10-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

Of Montreal ~ An Eluardian Instance (2008) Dir: Jesse Ewles from Jesse Ewles on Vimeo.

New Show, New Blog, New Music... coming soon!!

2010-10-19T01:44:00.000-07:00

Hello ADN'ers!

I can confirm that we will be back with you very shortly with new website, new tunes, new features, reviews and everything else you want to know about the alternative music scene. We are aiming for bigger and better and hope you will enjoy!!

In the interim, hit us up on twitter to see what we are listening to. Tweet us and say hi and we'll retweet! We love twitter!!

Peace out, see you soon.

Alex, Dan and Nash

Series 4, Episode 3 out today!

2010-04-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Avast, hello and good Easter tidings to one and all...

So you've enjoyed your 4-day weekend, you're back to work and let's face it, it's a bit shit. While you wonder exactly where your bank holiday went, ADN's very own version of the Easter Bunny has left in its wake a flurry of sugar-coated musical wonderment for you to clasp your choccy-riddled digits around...

On the show this week, Christian and Dan lament the absence of the loveable rogue Alex, who while we collectably recovered from a nasty bout of Norovirus, spent his week skiing, chucking himself headfirst down a mountain and inevitably into an unsuspecting seasonnaire...

On the music front it is nothing but brilliant new tunes all the way for you this week, brought to you from the likes of ADN favourites The National, a wonderful solo effort from 'he-of-Hot Chip' Joe Goddard, turbo-wonk reincarnate from We Have Band and Christian and Dan team up for a quite glorious Album of the Week from Frightened Rabbit.

It's been a long time coming but boy is it worth it.

Enjoy!

The ADN Team

Track listing:

1.Losers - Flush
2.The Album Leaf - Until The Last
3.Tallest Man on Earth - King of Spain
4.Clubsmith - Lament

Album of the Week: Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
5.Frightened Rabbit - Nothing Like You
6.Frightened Rabbit - The Wrestle

7.The National - Blood Buzz Ohio
8.Joe Goddard - Lemon & Lime (Home Time)
9.We Have Band - Divisive
10.Unkle - Natural Selection

Series 4, episode 2 out today!

2010-02-20T04:38:00.000-08:00

Monday morning blues? Yeah, us too. Still, let The ADN Project provide that all important silver lining with a shiny new episode, packed to the rafters with fresh new music, delightfully (?) ramshackle features and penetrating commentary (Ok, that was a lie), all brought to you by the usual suspects. Get your lug'oles around it here:

As ever, we've got more gift wrapped ear candy on hand than Zane Lowe's iPod. Neon Indian kick things off with 'the Grange Hill theme tune on acid', The Soft Pack provide a healthy slice of DIY indie rock, Matthew Dear remixes everyone's new favourite band The XX (inevitably glorious) and Roots Manuva teams up with The Maccabees for what surely must rank as oddest collaboration of the year. Chuck in tracks from the Vampire Weekend supporting Fan Death, beardy purveyors of folky Americana The Avett Brothers, indie experimentalists Royal Bangs and not-so-pretentious pop noir upstarts Mirrors, and you've got yourself one very healthy set of tunes.

In amongst the music you'll find features aplenty; Alex's Argos Intros returns in the face of overwhelming public demand, Christian says Yea(sayer) to album of the week and, as always, the gig guide is on hand to provide yet more shambolic live music-related tomfoolery.

Please enjoy responsibly.

Cheers!

Free mix for your delectation...

2010-02-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

Avast!

Here's a little mix I put together t'other night - it's pretty heavy but I think you'll like it...

Christian

1. Ladyhawke – Paris is Burning (Cut Copy remix)
2. LCD Soundsystem – Time To Get Away (Gucci Soundsystem remix)
3. Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (DJ Pierre remix)
4. Metro Area – Miura
5. Sebastien Leger – Victory (Lifelike Flashing Victory remix)
6. Friendly Fires – Lovesick (Evil Nine remix)
7. Boys Noize – Volta 82
8. Losers – No Man Is An Is An Island (Utah Saints remix)
9. Arthur Argent – Hold Your Head Up (Soulwax remix)
10. Meat Katie - Stop the Revolution (Jamie McHugh remix)
11. The Chemical Brothers – Burst Generator
12. Bloc Party – One More Chance (Alex Metric remix)
13. Mickey Monzza – Bounce Baby
14. Tom Vek – Nothing But Green Lights (Digitalism remix)
15. The Chemical Brothers – Galvanize (Abe Duque remix)
16. Jape – Floating (Alex Metric remix)
17. Kissy Sell Out – Her (Touche remix)
18. La Roux – Bulletproof (TEPR remix/Krafty Kuts re-rub)
19. Underworld – Cowgirl (Atomic Hooligan remix)
20. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (Evil Nine remix)

A Brand new series unleashed before your eyes: Series 4, Episode 1 is here!

2010-01-29T06:16:00.000-08:00

Avast good people of ADN!

After threats of administration and a 10 point deduction for delays in releasing the new series, the ADN Project is back from the wilderness for 2010, with an absolute beauty of a show for your listening pleasure right here:

As always we bring you a majestic mix of mind-melting tunes from Passion Pit, Chew Lips, Band of Skulls, Scandie upstarts JJ, Local Natives and Blakroc. Elsewhere, top new talent Mr Fogg kindly asks you to 'Keep Your Teeth Sharp’ , whilst Good Shoes pull a top drawer new single straight out of the onion bag.

Not only that but Hot Chip take to the stage for the first Album of the Week of the brand new series - we three guarantee that 'One Life Stand' will take pride of place in your CD collection faster than you can say 'well f*ck me, this show's a corker'

The features come fast and furious this week - Alex returns with a brilliantly revitalised take on the gig guide and we deliver a 'feature resurrection' of quite biblical proportions, all the while pondering the origins of our loveable rogue Alex . Listen on and you'll see why Dan and Christian are still none-the-wiser as to our cheeky chimney sweep's true identity ...

Until next time, do please enjoy the freshest installment of the finest new music, features and unbridled silliness courtesy of Team ADN.

Track listing:

1. Passion Pit - To Kingdom Come (Grum vocal remix)
2. Good Shoes - Under Control
3. Band of Skulls - Death by Diamonds and Pearls
4. Local Natives - Sun Hands
5. JJ - From Africa to Malaga

Album of the Week - Hot Chip - 'One Life Stand'
6. Hot Chip - Take it In
7. Hot Chip - Alley Cats

8. Hot Club de Paris - Dance the Ragged Dance
9. Chew Lips - Slick
10. New Young Pony Club - Lost A Girl
11. Blakroc - Why Can't I Forget Him
12. Mr Fogg - Keep Your Teeth Sharp
13. Memory Tapes - Green Knight

Series 3, episode 10 out now!

2009-12-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

Ahoy!

Here it is - the brand new episode of The ADN Project, available now for your listening pleasure.

On the show this week...

It's the usual mind-melting mix of shiny new tunes, featuring box fresh cuts from the likes of Vampire Weekend, Them Crooked Vultures, Tegan & Sara, The Cave Singers and Freelance Whales.

We've also got an exclusive interview and track from NME-approved London upstarts The Collectable Few, a pant-wettingly good album of the week from Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro and a typically turbo-charged gig guide from our very own Alex.

Elsewhere, Christian reflects on meeting The Fonz (yes, the real one), an over-excited Alex is let loose in the studio with an Alan Partridge iPhone app (Jackanackanory) and we mourn the untimely demise of not one, but two ADN hall of famers....maxi-sob.

All this creamy goodness crammed into 70 minutes...yeah, we can't believe it either!

Keep it locked...

Tracklist

Vampire Weekend: Cousins
Tegan & Sara: Hell
Bombay Bicycle Club: Lamp Light
The Cave Singers: I Don't Mind
Devendar Banhart: 16th & Valencia Roxy Music

Album of the week: Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

Biffy Clyro: That Golden Rule
Biffy Clyro: Many of Horror (When We Collide)

White Rabbits: Percussion Gun

Interview: The Collectable Few

The Collectable Few: Promises

Them Crooked Vultures: Dead End Friends
Eagles Of Death Metal: I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)
Volcano Choir: Husks & Shells
Freelance Whales: Generator ^ First Floor

Check out The ADN Project today!

2009-11-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the home of The ADN Project. Feel free to have a nose around to find out what we're all about.

You can check out our latest show right here

Need more? All previous episodes are archived right here on the ADN blog:

Series 3:

Episode 10

If you like what you see why not join The Project....

On Facebook

On Twitter

The ADN Project Oxjam Special is out now!

2009-10-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

Click below to listen to ADN's show case of the finest acts to play this month's Oxjam music festival...

For more information on this special show, just copy this link into your browser and away you go

http://adnproject.blogspot.com/2009/10/adn-oxjam-collaboration.html

Enjoy!

The ADN Team

ADN meets Oxbush!!!! (Monday 2nd November)

2009-10-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

www.jammyox.blogspot.com

With the Oxjam special show in production and Oxbush at Ginglik imminent, we thought we'd leave it to the performers to tell you what it's all about. We met with Run Toto Run and Reid Morrison of Treetop Flyers fame to discuss musical influences, their excitement at the upcoming event and playing with Alessi's Ark and erm... dressing up. Full show to come featuring music from both bands but, as a teaser, we thought we'd stick these up as a preview and give you a little more about two of the wonderful acts due to play on Monday. Enjoy!!

Run Toto Run
www.myspace.com/runtotomusic

Treetop Flyers
www.myspace.com/treetopflyersband

Series 3, Episode 9 out today!!

2009-10-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Roll up, roll up...

Your next hearty installment of ADN goodness is right here for your listening pleasure...

More information and track listings will follow very shortly, in the meantime have a bloody good time listening to another corker of a show!

The ADN Team

ADN Oxjam Collaboration!

2009-10-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone stop what you're doing...

The ADN Project OXJAM special is now available for your listening pleasure right here:

ADN celebrate newly formed collaboration with Oxjam to promote the best new musical talent the Capital has to offer.

Alex and Christian catch up with fantastic new acts Run Toto Run and Treetop Flyers, whilst bouncing around the studio like loons to the sounds of The Bang Bangs, Dinosaur Pile Up and Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip.

Meanwhile, 6 Day Riot, Frightened Rabbit and Alessi's Ark bring it down with some wonderfully downtempo numbers for your listening pleasure.

And we are the show that just keeps giving - as well as the brand new tune from Seasick Steve, we have the chance to for you and a mate to join us at the OXBUSH gig at Ginglik in SHepherds Bush on Monday 2nd November - where you'll catch Run Toto Run, Treetop Flyers and the beautiful Alessi's Ark performing live before your eyes

For your clue to the answer to the question (which we reveal on the show) you just need to head to www.jammyox.blogspot.com)

Enjoy the show!

The ADN Team

Series 3, Episode 8: Out Today!!!

2009-10-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to The ADN Project - a big slap on the wrist is in order for us ('us' referring to Nash, Dan and the love child of the Jarman Brothers and the chimney sweep from Oliver Twist - Alex) for being away for so long. We have been planning!

So here it is the next installment of excellent music. Series 3, Episode 8.

This weeks fun packed show is an emotional rollercoaster, lamenting the absence of an alcohol ridden DJ Daniel Cooper and sobbing at the news of no-longer of the LondonPaper fame, Luke Blackall.

We do however celebrate the united musical front of ADN + Everything on Toast Records collaborating to promote the best new bands and nights out London has to offer.

In addition we have the wonderful Traveling Band on the blower to give us an update on the progress they are making on recording new material - with a sneaky listen to new tracks from Traveling Band HQ.

ENJOY!!!

Tracklist

1. Led Bib - Flat Pack Fantasy
2. The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Heart's Too Bored to Beat
3. Wild Beasts - All The King's Men
4. Noah & The Whale - My Broken Heart
5. Friendly Fires - Kiss of Life

ALBUM OF THE WEEK - The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant
6. Cribs - Save Your Secrets
7. Cribs - City of Bugs

8. Shabby Rogue - My Life as a Secret Agent
9. The Travelling Band - Waterfall
10. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
11. Killa Kella - Everyday (lifelike remix)
12. BRMC - Fault Line
13. Frank Turner - Isabel

Listen in and enjoy the best in new musical entertainment!!!

Series 3, Episode 7 out today!

2009-08-15T04:09:00.000-07:00

...and as Brooklyn's finest once said, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out...

It's a lean, mean episode of your favourite show this week.

Alex - the man rumoured to be the result of a unsightly clusterf*ck involving Paul Weller, Bruno, Michael Bolton, Ladyhawke, Brian Harvey, Superhans and a host of other, as yet unconfirmed B-Z listers - finds himself sciving off in Turkey, whilst our fire-crotched celebrity guru Luke Blackall swaps ADN for panic-stricken shade-seeking in deepest, darkest France.

But fear not - never ones to crumble in the face of adversity, Christian and Dan are on hand to deliver you the latest slice of ADN goodness. Bringing you the usual genre-hopping mix of hot new sounds and classic cuts, there's not a single second wasted this week.

Marvel at hot up and comers The XX, Bibio and Elvin! Revel in the vintage sounds of The National and Nirvana! Get you bassface on for Whitest Boy Alive and tuck yourself in with a bit of Slow Club... and that's just for starters!

A massive thanks to all of our listeners for your continued support...and a big hello to all of you new'uns!

We sincerely hope you enjoy.

Tracklist

1. Telekinesis! - 'Tokyo'

2. Reverend & The Makers - 'No Woods, Just Trees'

3. Elvinn - 'In Colour' (Starsmith remix)

4. The XX - 'Basic Space'

5. Jamie T - 'Chaka Demus'

6. Whitest Boy Alive - 'Timebomb'

Album Of The Week - The Temper Trap: Conditions

7. The Temper Trap - 'Rest'

8. The Temper Trap - 'Resurrection'

9. Example - 'Watch The Sun Come Up'

10. Nirvana - 'Breed'

11. Bibio - 'Lover's Carvings'

12. Florence + The Machine - 'Howl'

13. The National - 'All The Wine'

14. Slow Club - 'When I Go'

Series 3, Episode 6 out now!

2009-07-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

Episode 6 out now!

Check it out right here:

On show 6...

The finest radio show in the land returns once more for a bumper episode packed full of musical goodness...The Tallest Man On Earth and Beirut introduce the ADN team to the gloriously delicate side of Folk music, while electro-enriched offerings from MSTRKFRT and a WORLD exclusive from Ulysses 82 guarantee to have you in a sodden, spent mess on the floor.

Meanwhile, a very soggy Prince of Honeycomb Loving, Luke Blackall joins us in the studio fresh from reporting for the LondonPaper at the hail and rain-filled Harry Potter Premiere, Christian catches up with top new talent The Pepys and we quiz Alex about quite how he of all people managed to survive a long weekend on Worthy Farm.

All this crammed into one radio show, available right now for your listening pleasure...

Enjoy!

The ADN Team

Tracklist

1. Ulysses 82 - Treat Me Like That (An ADN WORLD exclusive)
2. The War On Drugs - Arms Like Boulders
3. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Gardener
4. Discovery - So Insane
5. MSTRKRFT ft John Legend - Heartbreaker
6. Beirut - Nantes
7. Adam Arcuragi - The Belgian
8. The Pepys - Cheers to Baby Harlem
9. Wave Machines - The Line

ALBUM OF THE WEEK - We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
10. WWPJ - Quiet Little Voices
11. WWPJ - Moving Clocks Run Slow

12. Cornershop - The Roll Off Characteristics (of History in the Making)(Solo remake)
13. Alexi Murdoch - Some Day Soon
14. Miike Snow - Silvia
15. Blur - There's No Other Way
16. Here We Go Magic - Only Pieces
17. Dizzee Rascal - Holiday
18. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (1978 demo version)

Series 3, Episode 5 out today!

2009-06-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

Easy all,

Episode 5 has been officially unleashed as of today and by jove it's a humdinger!

On this week's bumper show...

Exclusive Toddla T interview! 'A high-speed collision of various bass-heavy styles..this does look good on the dancefloor' (NME) 'The party record of 2009!' (The Telegraph)

Alex meets the man behind the record that's getting the critics all hot under the collar. Toddla gives us the low down new record 'Skanky Skanky', explains how he managed to get pretty much the whole world to guest on the album and tells us why he reckons Eminem needs to cheer the f**k up. Not to be missed!

The London Paper's Luke Blackall! The king of celebrity gossip is back with yet another instalment of news from the eye-poppingly bizarre celeb world. Fresh from Djing at Lindsay Lohan's most recent London bash, Luke tells us just why the whole thing descended into one big masterclass in the art of toy throwing. If that's not enough, tales of diva-style strops from Katy Perry and epic keep-it-in-your-trousers failure from Akon and Dizzee Rascal should keep you well entertained.

Music, music and, er, music! Whatever your tastes, we've got you covered this week. From UK Garage to folk, electro to indie, ambient to math-rock, pop to Americana, dancehall to good old fashioned rock n roll - it's all here people! We've got all the freshest sounds you've come to expect from A D N, as well as exclusive Wiley and Bloc Party remixes chucked in for good measure.

You won't find a more ear-pleasing selection of tunes anywhere else, so settle yourself down into your favourite chair, hit play and revel in the creamy musical goodness. That sounds a bit wrong. Until next time…keep it locked!

Tracklist

1. Late Of the Pier - 'Focker'
2. MPHO - 'Box N Locks'
3. Mr Hudson - 'Supernova' (feat. Kanye West)
4. The Dead Weather - 'Treat Me Like Your Mother'
5. The Horrors - 'Scarlet Fields'
6. Holy F*ck - 'The Pulse'

Album of the week - Toddla T: Skanky Skanky

7. Toddla T - 'Shake It'
8. Toddla T - 'No Kip'

9. Wiley - 'Businessman' (Crookers remix)
10. The Travelling Band - 'Lonely Day To Take A Train'
11. The Cave Singers - 'Beach House'
12. Nutrition On Tape - 'Queen Bee'
13. Minus The Bear - 'Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse'
14. La Roux - 'In For The Kill' (Skream remix)
15. Grum - 'Sound Reaction'
16. Bloc Party - 'Ion Square' (Bright Lights Don't Bore Me Yet remix)

2009-06-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

ADN Take on Glastonbury Festival!!

That's right kids, ADN (well SuperHans if he can stay alive) will be in Glastonbury from 24th-29th May to review the best in new music and live acts on the alternative music scene.

The plan is for SuperHans to hitch himself a ride down to Glastonbury. Stay for 6 days. Review 18 gigs. Take 18 photos. Interview anyone that will speak to him / understand him. A special ADN Project Glastonbury Festival Special will be the result in a couple of weeks time, gig reviews and snappy snaps here... all the best music on a special 18 track show. Wish us luck and see you in Camden on the Farm!

Line UP!!!!!!!!!

Series 3, episode 4 out today!

2009-06-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

Easy all,

We figured you lot needed cheering up after SuBo's heroic BGT failure and subsequent descent into mentalism, so we've done the decent thing and recorded a brand new show for your listening pleasure. We'd suggest hitting that play button - it might just take the edge off. After all, SuBo would want you to be happy, right?

On the show this week...

Alex makes it safely back from the Great Escape Festival, armed with a fistful of box fresh records from some of the hottest up and coming acts from across the globe. These are the bands that will be soundtracking your near future, so be sure to check them out. If you want to read more about Alex's escapades down by the seaside, you can check out the full ADN review right here

Elsewhere on the show you can look forward to the angelic sounding Au Revoir Simone, the soon to be massive Temper Trap, the thinking man's ear crumpet that is Grizzly Bear and the epic sounds of the UK's very own Bat For Lashes.

'A perma-tanned, vacuous waste of space'. Just who might the London Paper's Luke Blackall be referring to there? The fire crotched king of celebrity news is back with a bang this week, regailing us with yet more rubbery nonsense from the ever more bizarre world of music celebrity. It'd be a crime to miss it folks.

Big, big love as always...keep it ADN people!

Tracklist

1. Passion Pit: Eyes As Candles
2. Bang Bang Eche: 4 To The Floor
3. Bat For Lashes: Daniel
4. The Hundred In The Hands: Dressed In Dresden
5. Japandroids: Wet Hair
6. Neon Indian: Deadbeat Summer

Album Of The Week - Dub Pistols: Rum & Coke

7. Dub Pistols: Back To Daylight
8. Dub Pistols: Keep The Fire Burning

9. Tilly & The Wall: Beat Control
10. The Temper Trap: Sweet Disposition
11. Peggy Sue: First Aid / Once We Were Strangers
12. Au Revoir Simone: Shadows
13. A.D.O.R: Let It All Hang Out
14. Die Die Die!: Blue Skies
15. The Ettes: No Home
16. Ben Kweller: Sawdust Man
17. Grizzly Bear: Foreground
18. Liam Finn: Lead Balloon

Live review, 14/05 - 16/05, The Great Escape Festival

2009-05-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

(We were there in 2009, but thought we'd let you know already when next years is!)

And so armed with Press and Photo Passes, the smallest camera in the world, tasked with attending 18 gigs and meeting 18 bands, Alex was sent to Brighton to review the industry showcase which is The Great Escape Festival.

This is the result!!

Enjoy!!

Series 3, episode 3 out today!

2009-05-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

.....aaaaand here it is at last! Early baths all round for the ADN team this week, as episode 3 arrives, well, 3 days late. A devilish combo of failing technology, real work (fail) and a debauched stag weekend (win) has taken its toll. We're confident that it's been worth the wait though...why not judge for yourselves by hitting that cheeky little play button:

On the show this week...

The ADN team confront their collective hangover, look it in the eye, administer a textbook spinning piledriver to its ass and heroically guide you through another 18 track ADN odyssey. As ever, fresh new tracks abound; try Filthy Dukes, Death Cab For Cutie, Hockey and Major Lazer for starters. Strumathons from Johnny Flynn and Grammatics, tasty beats from Mos Def and The Pharcyde and an infuriatingly catchy offering from (small eared) Esser are but a few of the other treats on offer. Elsewhere, Dan guides you through this week's album of the week from Ben Harper & Relentless7, whilst Alex bashes out yet another gig guide with unparalleled panache.

Are UB40 actually evil? Is there anyone who Mischa Barton isn't shagging? And what is in that f*cking tea cup that Lady Gaga knocks about with? The man with (most of) the answers is, of course, The London Paper's Luke Blackall. Don't even consider missing out on this one. Big!

To the usual ADN listening massive; thanks as ever. To the newbies; hello to you. And to those who still haven't listened....do yourself a favour! Until next time pop pickers...

Tracklist

1. Mos Def, Diverse & Prefuse 73: Wylin Out (RJD2 Remix)
2. Death Cab For Cutie: My Mirror Speaks
3. Filthy Dukes: Elevator
4. Taj Mahal: Dust Me Down (feat. Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals)
5. Handsome Furs: All We Want, Baby, Is Everything
6. Esser: Headlock

Album Of The Week - Ben Harper & Relentless7: White Lies For Dark Times

7. Ben Harper & Relentless7: Why Must You Always Dress In Black
8. Ben Harper & Relentless7: Fly One Time

9. Major Lazer: Hold The Line
10. The Rapture: House Of Jealous Lovers
11. School Of Seven Bells: Half Asleep
12. Johnny Flynn: Leftovers
13. Hockey: Too Fake
14. Jack Penate: Be The One
15. Grammatics: Cruel Tricks Of The Light
16. The Pharcyde: Runnin' (Phillipaines Remix)
17. Blue Roses: Doubtful Comforts

2009-05-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

ADN Take on Great Escape Festival!!

That's right kids, ADN (well SuperHans if he can stay alive) will be in Brighton this weekend (14th-16th May) to review the best in new music and live acts on the alternative music scene.

The plan is for SuperHans to get himself down to Brighton on the train. Stay for 3 days. Review 18 gigs. Take 18 photos. Interview anyone that will speak to him / understand him. A special ADN Project Great Escape Festival Special will be the result in a couple of weeks time, gig reviews and snappy snaps here... all the best music on a special 18 track show. Wish us luck and if you want to join, buy a ticket (still tickets left!!) / turn up /check out www.escapegreat.com and get yaself down to Camden on Sea!

Full Confirmed Line Up So Far:

Abe Vigoda / An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump / Artefacts For Space Travel / Banjo or Freakout / Bell X1 / Ben Kweller / Beth Jeans Houghton / Brakes / British India / British Sea Power / Broken Records / Brute Chorus / Cable / Casiokids / Cassie and the Cassettes / Chairlift / Chew Lips / Citizen Cope / Cloud Control / Colourmusic / Come On Gang! / Connan Mockasin / Dan Black / Dananananykroayd / The Deer Tracks / Die! Die! Die! / Dag For Dag / DM Stith / Esser / Everything Everything / Ex Lovers / Fan Death / Fanzine / Fight Like Apes / Future Of The Left / Futurecop! / Ghost Of A Thousand / Giantess / Gold Teeth / Golden Silvers / Gran Ronde / Harrys Gym / Hatcham Social / Heartbreak / Holy Fuck / Hoodlums / Hot Silk Pockets / Hunting The Minotaur / Ipso Facto / It Hugs Back / James Yuill / Joe Gideon and the Shark / Johnny Foreigner / Juliette and the New Romantiques / Kasabian/ KASMS / Kids Love Lies / Kissy Sellout / Lawrenca Arabia / Lay Low / Let's Wrestle / Liam Finn / Lightspeed Champion / Little Boots / Little Lost David / Lonely Ghosts / Magic Magic / Marnie Stern / Meme Love / Marina and the Diamonds / Metric / Metronomy / Micachu and the Shapes / Middle Class Rut / Mika Miko / Miranda Lee Richards / Mongrel / Moriarty / My Tiger My Timing / Noah and the Whale /Nullifier / Official Secrets Act / Ou Est Le Swimming Pool / Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man. / Panama Kings / Patrick Wolf / Peggy Sue / Pulled Apart By Horses / Rainbow Arabia / Rodney Fisher / Rogues / Rosie and the Goldbug / S.C.U.M / Sad Day For Puppets / Screaming Tea Party / Sharks / Skint & Demoralized / Sky Larkin / Slow Club / Soap&Skin / Solid Gold / Swanton Bombs / Televised Crimewave /The Arkells / The Balky Mule / A Black Box Revelation / The Black Lips / The Boxer Rebellion / The Boy that Trapped the Sun / The Chapman Family / A Grave With No Name / The Handsome Family / The Invisible / The John Steel Singers / The Joy Formidable /The Macabees / The Mae Shi / The Males / The Miserable Rich / The New Wine / The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart / The Pipettes / The School of Seven Bells / The Shiny Brights / The Soft Pack / The Temper Trap / The Veils / The Week That Was / The XX / Threatmantics / Three Trapped Tigers / Throats / Times New Viking / Tin Can Telephone / To The Bones / Trailer Trash Tracys / Trigger Finger / Turbowolf / Ulterior / V V Brown / Video Nasties / Vivian Girls / Voluntary Butler Scheme / We Have Band / We Were Promised Jet Packs / White Denim / Wintersleep / Woodpigeon / Your Twenties / Youves / Yves Klein Blue

Series 3, episode 2 out today!

2009-04-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

Oi oi, it's ADN Monday! That means one thing and one thing only... a brand new installment of your favourite fortnightly show. Check out episode 2 here:

On this week's show...

We're all over the place...in a good way! As ever, we bring the finest new music to the table - Dizzee Rascal, Golden Silvers, Harlem Shakes and the quite wonderful Monkey Swallows Universe are all on hand with shiny new offerings. Need more? We've got experimental New York nut jobs Gang Gang Dance teaming up with East London's very own 'prince of grime' Tinchy Stryder, Chiddy Bang kicking off your summer with some top drawer party jam action and Frightened Rabbit unfurling a tartan wrapped bundle of irresistable melancholy off their new live LP.

Need your fix of ludicrous non-news from the world of musical celebrity? Fear not good listeners, we've got our best man on the case - The London Paper's Luke Blackall is back! Quite how a chat about Oasis' ex axeman Bonehead ended up with Ronnie Corbett facing off against Yevgeny Kafelnikov in a celebrity pig based tug-athon is anyone's guess, but we're kind of glad it happened. Not to be missed!

If that's still not enough (you greedy, greedy b*stards), we've got Alex taking centre stage on the feature front this week. As well as dishing out ADN's album of the week (The Virgins...big!) we also get another rocket fuelled gig guide, delivered this time around with unparalleled velocity. If you can actually decipher any of it, do give us a shout. Still want more??! Jesus. But since you asked...Christian unearths some shocking musical theivery, Alex declares his love for one woman and three men AND we hear what the good people of London had to say about Ben Harper's massive Kentish Town show. And, er, that's your lot. Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. Dizzee Rascal: Bonkers
2. Gang Gang Dance: Princes (feat. Tinchy Stryder)
3. Empire Of The Sun: We Are The People (Burns remix)
4. Harlem Shakes: Strictly Game
5. The Answering Machine: Cliffer
6. Golden Silvers: True Romance

Album Of The Week - The Virgins: The Virgins

7. The Virgins: Teen Lovers
8. The Virgins: Love Is Colder Than Death

9. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
10. Feist: Sea Lion Woman (Chromeo remix)
11. Peter, Bjorn & John: Nothing To Worry About
12. The Cheeks: Slow Kids
13. Chiddy Bang: On Our Way
14. Frightened Rabbit: My Backwards Walk (live)
15. Monkey Swallows Universe: Sheffield Shanty
16. Kasabian: Fire

Live review: Ben Harper & Relentless7 @ Kentish Town Forum 19/04/09

2009-04-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ben Harper brings his new band to town. London goes mental.

For this self confessed Harper nerd, the prospect of a Ben show without trusty sidekicks The Innocent Criminals was quite the sizeable headf*ck. Harper's shows with the IC's have deservedly achieved legendary status over the years, inducing mass hysteria amongst crowds across the globe (seriously, if I hear another 'Ben I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!' drunkenly delivered during an acoustic number I may just have a 'Falling Down' moment) and drawing plaudits from a hugely diverse range of observers. That said, I'm convinced that now was the right time for a change; whilst his last two records with the Innocent Criminals satisfied to an extent, the listener couldn't shake the suspicion that the Ben and the band were edging somewhat dangerously towards 'going through the motions' territory. In the live arena, having played with the IC's for the majority of his 15 year career, you can forgive both Ben and the band for wanting to move on to pastures new.

So what to make of Ben's latest venture, Relentless7? As they shuffle somewhat uncermeoniously onto the stage in front of a packed HMV Forum, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a band stripped down the bare essentials; drums, bass, guitar and a shed load of soul. Relentless7 is a rock band in the truest sense and, rest assured, these boys rock hard. As they tear through a monster two hour set, the first thing you notice is just how invigorated Harper seems. Ben's shows have always been intense, but there's a freshness and a new found exuberance here that eminates from the great man throughout. The band follow Harper's lead; limbs flail, broken drumsticks fly across the stage with joyous regularity and a eye popping number of six stringers are shredded.

Put simply, these new cuts sound sensational. An incendiary 8 minute rendition of 'Keep It Together' is the night's highlight for this particular reviewer, Harper's electrifying lap slide sending clenched fists skyward and jaws floorbound. Current single 'Shimmer and Shine' fuzzed out brilliance feels instantly familiar, whilst the bluesy swagger of 'Number With No Name' rocks the joint to it's innermost core. Despite the guitar pyrotechnics on show, inevitably it's the more introspective pieces that threaten to steal the show; 'Faithfully Remain' and 'Skin Thin' are classic Harper, both perfectly showcasing his soul drenched vocal stylings. At one stage Harper moves away from the mic, serenading the near 2000 capacity venue with some bare bones acapella. Spine tingling stuff indeed.

But what about the old stuff I hear you cry? Well, a revamped 'Better Way' and a gorgeous full band version of 'Another Lonely Day' go some way to placating those craving a Harper nostalgia fix, but the band leave it at that. A wise move in my book; after all, this show is about Relentless7 and on this performance it's clear that their material is more than strong enough to carry a headline slot on it's own merit.

In what seems like no time at all, the hordes of satisfied gig-goers are shuffling back off into the London night time, although not before a crowd pleasing cover of 'Under Pressure' (for a few panic striken seconds I feared for an ill chosen Vanilla Ice cover...bullet dodged there methinks) is unleashed upon the sweaty masses. If they didn't know who Relentless7 were before tonight, they most certainly do now. Whilst Harper was always going to be the star attraction, the rest of the lads deserve huge praise; the tightness of tonight's show and the obvious chemistry within the band belies the fact that this is a relatively new venture for all concerned. To nick a choice phrase off one punter outside the venue, shows this good are - and I quote - 'rarer than a pregnant nun'. 'Nuff said.

Ben Harper & Relentless7 release their debut album 'White Lies For Dark Times' (Virgin) on April 27th. Look out ADN's review on episode 3, coming soon.

Don't want to take our word for how good the show was? Here's what the good people of London town had to tell the roving ADN reporters...

Series 3, episode 1 out today!

2009-04-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

It's on! The ADN Project is back for a third series, with episode 1 now available. Check out the show below...

On the show this week...

Quite simply the finest selection of tracks available online.... box fresh offerings from the Rakes, The Juan Maclean and Phoenix, tasty cuts from big hitters Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arctic Monkeys and PJ Harvey and red hot tracks from London based upstarts The Invisible and The Draytones.

Elsewhere... banana based drug abuse, royal sex music and edgy Mancunian c***s - find out who's been doing what in the warped world of celebrity music from The London Paper's very own Luke Blackall . Luke begins his ADN residency this week and, rest assured, it's not to be missed.

Never ones to disappoint the old skool, we also bring you old favourites in the form of Alex's gig guide (faster and more furious than ever before) and Christian's album of the week, courtesy of Manchester based indie stalwarts Doves. Throw in more music, more ropey banter and 'some old Doris' (all will become clear) and you've got quite the show on your hands.

Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. Phoenix: 1901
2. The Draytones: Keep Loving Me
3. The Rakes: That's The Reason
4. The Invisible: OK
5. PJ Harvey & John Parish: Black Hearted Love
6. Arctic Monkeys: Baby I'm Yours

Album Of The Week - Doves: Kingdom Of Rust

7. Doves: Jetstream
8. Doves: Winter Hill

9. The Juan Maclean: No Time
10. Zarif: Let Me Back
11. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: Everything With You
12. The Whitest Boy Alive: Golden Cage (Fred Fauke remix)
13. First Aid Kit: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
14. Mumford & Sons: Roll Away The Stone
15. Maccabees: No Kind Words
16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Zero
17. The King Blues: What If Punk Never Happened? (Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip remix)

The London Paper's Luke Blackall joins ADN!

2009-04-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

We're more than a bit chuffed to announce that Luke Blackall, king of London celebrity news, has joined the ADN Project!

Luke will be joining the ADN team for the WHOLE of series 3, bringing you good people up to speed with the weird and (rarely) wonderful antics of music celebrities in our fine capital. Trawling all of London's hottets nightspots, Luke will be bringing us news of the tears, tantrums, drug hells, sordid liasons and iffy clotheslines that make us, er, love our tabloid hugging pals.

Furthermore, it would be doing your ears a somewhat significant disservice if we didn't allow a man of such impeccable taste to unleash the odd record onto the listening public - look out for Luke's tune of the week on EVERY episode in the shiny new series of The ADN Project.

When he's not creating radio gold with the ADN team, Luke can be found writing for The London Paper, the capital's most popular daily. No celebrity stone is left unturned in his daily column, so be sure to check it out. For those unfortunate enough to live outside of the LDN, you can keep up to speed on the London's Buzz's Twitter feed. Marvellous.

ADN's top 10 of 2008 (with 20 more for good measure)

2009-01-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

After weeks of blood, sweat, tears, tantrums, toy throwing, (manly) make-up hugs, u-turns, sudden moments of crippling indecision and more than a few chocolate hob nobs, we're proud to finally announce our top 10 records of 2008. Turns out it was a pretty good year...

********

#1: Friendly Fires - 'Friendly Fires'

"And every night we'll watch the stars, they'll be out for us..."

Somewhere along the line, people seem to have forgotten about good old fashioned fun. Sure, there's the minor issue of a global economic meltdown and yeah, the great British public deemed X Factor's Hallelujah better than old Buckley's effort. Hard times are indeed upon us. So who you gonna call? Straight outta, er, St Albans, enter Friendly Fires! Chin scratching wank fodder for Pitchfork fanatics this ain't, but damn these guys know how to stick a big old grin on your face. Unashamedly poptastic, this is a record packed with 3 - 4 minute gems that practically burst at the seams with wide eyed exuberance. Not liking this is a bit like not liking Nutella, Wall-E or The Wire - it either makes you a cynical shit or just a little bit wrong in the head. To sum up: buy album, put in CD player, turn up to 11, dance about like a twat, feel good. Easy!

Key tracks: 'Jump In The Pool', 'Paris', 'On Board', 'Skeleton Boy'....f*ck it, get them all. Trust us.

********

#2: Kano - '140 Grime Street'

"If they aint ready, tell 'em to buy Jamie T, cuz I'm heavy / Bassline messy 'n' yeah I go Glastonbury 'n' wear wellies..."

In the space of two records Kano had gone from UK grime's underground king to washed up has-been sans record deal. Harsh, especially given that this is an MC blessed with a flow as smoothe as a freshly poured flagon of Guinness and bars sharper than Bond out on the razz. Back on his own label for '140 Grime Street', Kano delivers an aggressive, focussed set of tracks that establish him back where he belongs - leading the charge for the UK's urban scene. Lyrically it's uncompromising stuff, veering in a notably different direction to the ever more chart friendly offerings from the likes of Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. Guest appearances from the likes of Skepta, Ghetto and the aforementioned Wiley add extra muscle to an already impressive set. Highly recommended.

Key tracks: 'Hustler', 'Paper', 'Hunting We Will Go', 'Anywhere We Go', 'These MCs'

********

#3: Metallica - 'Death Magnetic'

"Cause we hunt you down without mercy / Hunt you down all nightmare long"

Well you try finding a Metallica lyric that actually sounds cool written down! Seriously, it's impossible. Metallica must be the least cool band on the planet - 4 grown family men still dressing in black, singing about monsters and moaning on about that 'evil interweb thing'. And yet somehow we just can't get enough of them. They f*cking rule. Maybe we've never got over buying the 'Black Album' on cassette and thinking - nay, knowing - that we were the coolest motherfuck*rs in town. After the massively gash 'St Anger', 'Death Magnetic' is the sound of Metallica back on ominously good form - it's all here people! Face melting solos from Hammett? Check. Enormous chugtastic riffs that compel you to crank the iPod up to 11? Check. Another 'Unforgiven'?! Check. Do the old codgers a favour and pick this up, you'll be dusting down the air axe in no time. Essential.

Key Tracks: 'All Nightmare Long', 'Cyanide', 'Unforgiven III', 'The Judas Kiss'

********

#4: Foals - 'Antidotes'

"Blow up these play parades, let's go / To an aviary far from home..."

Foals seemed to have been around forever before this debut record even dropped, such was the media buzz surrounding them. Bringing math rock to the masses, 'Antidotes' is an incredibly satisfying listen that just about justifies the ludicrous hype . If you like your 6 minute reverb drenched rock n roll odysseys then this is best avoided; the sound here is clean, compact and ultra-crisp. That's not to say that these Oxford chaps don't know a thing or two about a toe-tapping tune of course, as 'Antidotes' is jam packed with them. Catchy, smart and nower-than-now, you need this in your collection.

Key tracks: 'Cassius', 'Olympic Airways', 'Balloons', 'Two Steps Twice'

********

5: Death Cab For Cutie - 'Narrow Stairs'

"You gotta spend some time love, you gotta spend some time with me..."

Death Cab For Cutie can sometimes make themsleves a hard band to like. For a start, 'Cutie' is just quite an annoying word, up there with the likes of 'lush', 'fab' and 'flip flop'. The 'Death' part is misleading - one would be forgiven for thinking that this was more Norwegian forest metal than sentimental nerd rock. And then there's the old 'Gibbard whine', usually found wrapping itself around lyrics about girls, failed relationships and, er, girls. Sometimes he also sings about girls. Luckily, Narrow Stairs takes all that is good about Death Cab and tidly organises it under one roof. Tearjerker lyrics, great melodies and irresistable hooks are all correct and present, but this time around the mood is darker, the songs bigger and the sonic stylings broader. A real return to form for The 'Cab. Splendid.

Key tracks: 'Bixby Canyon Bridge', 'I Will Possess Your Heart', 'No Sunlight', 'Your New Twin Sized Bed'

********

#6: Frightened Rabbit - 'The Midnight Organ Fight'

"It takes more than fucking someone you don't know to keep yourself warm..."

Let's get it out the way early doors - Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchinson sounds a tiny bit like the bloke from Counting Crows. There, we've said it. If you can get past that (and fair play to you), then get ready to embrace one of the most eye poppingly honest, criminally ignored and damn right awesome records you've heard in a good long while. On first listen, you could be forgiven for passing this off as little more than solid indie rock fayre. But, much like fellow ADN favourites The National, these Scots craft tunes that reward repeated listens with moments of real magic. Much of this can be attributed to Hutchinson's brutally honest (and at times, simply brutal) lyrics, delivered throughout with perfect Scottish sincerity. In many ways it's the ultimate break-up record, but there's enough here to keep even the most serial monagamist entertained. In short, one of 2008's most captivating listens.

Key tracks: 'The Twist', 'Keep Yourself Warm', 'Poke', 'The Modern Leper'

********

#7: Justice - 'A Cross The Universe'

"You were such a P.Y.T catching all the lights, just easy as A.B.C, that's how you make it right..."

You've bought the studio album, paid for your gig tickets and now those pesky suits are trying to rinse you for an extra tenner. Yep, we've got that most divisive of things here - the live dance album. While you can understand people getting cynical about shelling out to hear a couple of blokes press some buttons, this record screams out for you to suspend cynicism. Recorded live in San Franscico and with the crowd noise jacked right up in the mix, it's an adrenaline shot aimed straight at the heart. Far from a cynical re-hashing of their studio work, this set sees Justice taking those original tracks, ripping them to the shreds, sticking their remains through some sinister electro-noise blender and dumping the results on the chemically enhanced masses below. If this doesn't get you moving, then you've got more than a few problems. D.A.N.C.E!

Key tracks: 'Waters Of Nazareth', 'Phantom Part II', 'Genesis', 'One Minute To Midnight'

********

#8: Bon Iver - 'For Emma, Forever Ago'

"This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realization, it's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away..."

You'd be forgiven for wanting to give the swerve to a bloke who voluntarily decided to spend several months in total isolation in a Wisconsin forest. It's a bit weird. But wait! In doing so, Bon Iver - aka Justin Vernon - might just have created the year's most heart stoppingly gorgeous record. From start to finish this is captivating stuff; music stripped down to man, guitar and lots (and lots) of heartache. But depressing this ain't - there's an uplifting quality on display here that really shines through, never more so than on album closer 'Re: Stacks', an all too rare jaw-on-floor moment in the big, bad world of modern music. Truly stunning.

Key tracks: 'Re: Stacks', 'Skinny Love', 'Blindsided', 'The Wolves (Act I and II)'

********

#9: Cool Kids - 'The Bake Sale'

"What it is what it ain't come check the noise, it's the new black version of the Beastie Boys..."

Perhaps (almost certainly) we're just completely out of touch, but decent hip hop records seemed to be a bit thin on the ground in '08 - maybe that's what made this party-rap tour de force all the more satisfying. It won't change many lives, but man it sounds good cranked up in your car. Penetrating social commentary? Er, nope. Cutting edge sonic innovation? Nada. 1o of the finest booty shakin' party jams this side of Run DMC? Abso-fuckin'-lutely.

Key tracks: '88', 'Bassment Party', 'What Up', 'One Two'

********

#10: Cut Copy - 'In Ghost Colours'

"There's something burning up inside, I reach out for you and our hearts collide…"

Imagine - if you can / will – Kylie Minogue, LCD Soundsystem and Daft Punk indulging in a gargantuan clusterf*ck. Now picture it taking place on a rainbow. In space. With everyone off their tits. Still with me? Good. You’ve now got a fairly accurate idea of what this – the sophomore outing from Australia’s finest purveyors of guitar infused dancefloor tuneage – sounds like. Marking a huge leap forward from debut effort ‘Bright Like Neon Love’, ‘In Ghost Colours’ is a super-confident, focussed record that should more than satisfy indie fashionistas, dancefloor junkies and good old fashioned pop lovers alike. It’s even got one of those ‘Digital Love’ style robot voice thingies on it. Marvellous.

Key tracks: 'Feel The Love', 'Lights & Music', 'Far Away', 'Hearts On Fire', 'Nobody Lost, Nobody Found'

********

Finally, here's 20 more of our favourites from 2008 that just missed out on the top 10...

Late Of The Pier - 'Fantasy Black Channel'
Sigur Ros - "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust"
Hot Chip - 'Made In The Dark'
Sun Kil Moon - 'April'
Ra Ra Riot - 'The Rhumb Line'
TV On The Radio - 'Dear Science'
Jenny Lewis - 'Acid Tongue'
Kanye West - '808s & Heartbreak'
Elbow - 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
Vampire Weekend - 'Vampire Weekend'
M83 - 'Saturdays = Youth'
Okkervil River - 'The Stand Ins'
Santogold - 'Santogold'
Dodos - 'Visitor'
Laura Marling - 'Alas, I Cannot Swim'
Fleet Foxes - 'Fleet Foxes'
Neon Neon - 'Stainless Style'
Shearwater - 'Rook'
Kings Of Leon - 'Only By The Night'
Lykke Li - 'Youth Novels'

So there you have it, ADN's favourite records of the year. Bring on 2009!

Britney Bites Back

2009-01-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

We are all well aware of the myriad social networking sites that infest the internet, where we are given the chance to live a childhood fantasy of being friends with our music heroes...

But it seems that someone has got their own back on a very unfortunate Britney Spears, as her page on social networking site Twitter was hacked and a fascinating message posted, supposedly from her.

It reads:

"Hi Y'all! Brit Brit here, just wanted to update you all on the size of my vagina. Its about 4 feet wide with razor sharp teeth"

Incredible. Next time you think you're in with a chance of bedding Miss Spears, take the time to remember this post.

REVIEW: Al Green live @ Royal Albert Hall 05/11/08

2009-01-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 5th November

The Reverend Al Green brings sex music to the Royal Albert Hall...

...but first we had to endure the tame warblings of one of Britain's most popular (see also 'tedious') soul singers, Gabrielle. Once she had completed an extended (seriously, kill me) version of 'Dreams' it was time for the real fun to begin...

For those who don't know much about him, Memphis man Al Green has been on the soul and gospel scene since 1971, and I'm pretty sure that he and Marvin Gaye between them are responsible for the creation of at least 60% of the children born in the 1970's. At the age of 62 he continues to deliver his brand of sex music with the same power that he did even 30 years ago - the voice is still incredible, almost as impressive as his apparently incessant desire to get his end away with most of the crowd's female contingent. For a short, tubby man, dressed in a three piece suit with lilac waistcoat and tie to still have women throwing themselves at him, almost fighting one another to cop a feel of the big man, is testimony to the effect this man has had on the music world.

Playing down rumours that he had a funny turn in the dressing room before the gig, the Reverend Al paraded around the stage with his trademark bouquet of red roses, handing them out to women on the front rows, venturing further into the crowds to get a little extra loving (the security guards were on high alert as it looked like he might get mobbed at this point)

Serenading the crowd with big hits "I Can't Stop", "Let's Stay Together" and "Tired of Being Alone" to name but a few, we also heard a few tunes from his new album, unsurprisingly named "Lay It Down", which features guest appearances from the likes of Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend.

Not only that but Big Al found the time to include a few amusing life stories and sang a medley of songs from his own heroes, including The Temptations’ “My Girl”, Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home”, get in.

Finishing the hour-and-a-half long performance with Amazing Grace, we left the gig feeling very good about life and wanting to get it on with anything that moved.

Reverend Albert Green, we salute you.

The ADN Project Christmas Special!

2008-12-24T16:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without an ADN special, so why not grab it here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/3nn341

On the 2008 ADN Christmas special...

Christian and Dan are back with a Santa's sackful of excellent tunes designed to jack your festive cheer up to 11. Expect a musical stocking stuffed with goodies from the likes of Justice, Bon Iver, Florence & The Machine, The Mighty Underdogs, Toots & The Maytals and Frightened Rabbit. Elsewhere, Vampire Weekend get covered, Friendly Fires get remixed and Death Cab For Cutie get (very) festive. Combine that with more nonsense chat than you could shake a tinsel covered stick at (not to mention a visit from The Broadcasting Standards Agency) and you've got yourselves a tasty Christmas treat.

We've had a whole load of fun making shows this year - we hope you've enjoyed listening in. Massive thanks to everyone who tuned in / bigged us up / rinsed us / helped us out or just said hi during 2008, we appreciate it muchly. We're going for bigger and better things in the new year - look out for series 3 in early 2009!

Until then take care and, of course, have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Big big love,

Alex, Dan & Christian

As promised, Wiley...

2008-12-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

Given that Christian was practically blowing his beans over Wiley's video for 'Cash In My Pocket' (episode 8 streaming now, sure) we thought it only right that we stick it up on here. The boy Nashums wasn't lying either - this is a masterclass in how to do the low budget video properly...

Poor old bankers, eh?

Series 2, episode 8 out now!

2008-12-20T06:35:00.000-08:00

The latest installment of The ADN Project has hit the web and is waiting for your ears right here

On this week's show...

19 chunks of aural chocolate from the likes of Takka Takka, Dodos, Idlewild, Kanye West, Sigur Ros and Beastie Boys. Dan brings us album of the week courtesy of of preppy New Yorkers Ra Ra Riot, Golden Silvers provide a not unsubstantial slice of fresher than fresh Hoxton ubertrendiness, whilst Slow Club bring us some festive cheer with their drop dead gorgeous Christmas record - not to be missed!

Elsewhere Alex commits a heinous act of Mariah Carey related sabotage, debate rages over the ADN top 10 records of the year and Dan wonders just where the Library have gone. Seriously, where the f*ck are they? Answers on a postcard people.

Go on, give your ears an early Christmas present...

Tracklist

1. Kano - 'Hustler'

2. Mr Hudson – 'There Will Be Tears'

3. Idlewild – 'Everyone Says That You’re So Fragile'

4. Dr Meaker – 'Bad Boy Calling'

5. Mariah Carey sabotage! / Kanye West – 'Welcome To Heartbreak'

6. Beastie Boys – 'Skills To Pay The Bills'

7. Takka Takka – 'Everybody Say'

8. Dodos - 'Fools'

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: RA RA RIOT 'THE RHUMB LINE'

9. Ra Ra Riot – 'Can You Tell'

10. Ra Ra Riot – 'Too Too Too Fast'

11. Cathey Davey - 'Reuben'

12. Wiley – 'Money In My Pocket'

13. Devendra Banhart – 'Long Haired Child'

14. AU – 'RR vs. D'

15. Kid Cudi – '50 Ways To Make A Record'

16. Golden Silvers – 'Arrow Of Eros'

17. Sigur Ros - 'Inní mér syngur vitleysingur'

18. Slow Club – 'Christmas TV'

REVIEW: Hot Chip live @ Brixton Academy 07/11/08

2008-11-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

It's safe to say that this was a night that didn't get off to a flying start. First Wiley pulls out for reasons unknown, then I have to sit through a full half hour of unremitting toss courtesy of his replacement Max Tundra. At this stage it's worth noting that reviewers, the rest of the audience and, clearly, Hot Chip themselves love(d) this bloke, so maybe its just me. Personally I'd rather eat my eyes than sit through his 'LOOK AT HOW WACKY I AM, I WEAR PYJAMAS ONSTAGE, LMFAO, ROFLCOPTER!!!!!!!!!' routine again, but seeing as I was about the only person in the place not smoking his pole by the end of his set, please do take my opinion with a sizeable pinch of salt.

Thankfully Hot Chip blew the roof off the gaff, so all dubious support slot decisions were very much forgiven. In the live arena, their songs regularly take on new identities - almost always for the better. I love bands who do that. If you want to go and listen to a CD really loudly, go and spend your hard earned dollar on tickets to see The Killers. 'Over & Over' in particular took on an extra set of balls, shaking Brixton right to its very core. Evidence here:

Other highlights included opener 'One Pure Thought', the old classic 'Boy From School' and the much underrated 'Wrestlers'. Special mention must also go to 'Ready For The Floor' - a true pop materpiece which had everyone in the place grinning like chesire cats and pulling all manner of dubious 'signature moves': (the big balloons helped too)

So, a great night for all concerned. They may look like the kids from school who were rubbish at PE and who frequently ended up stuffed into lockers, but Hot Chip are definitely having the last laugh. Make sure you catch them when they next roll into your neck of the woods.

Setlist

One Pure Thought

Bendable Poseable

Shake A Fist

Boy From School

Hold On

Touch Too Much

Over & Over

Wrestlers

Out At The Pictures

New Song

Ready For The Floor

Encore

New Song

My Piano

No Fit State

Nothing Compares To You / In The Privacy Of Our Love

Dizzee on Obama

2008-11-06T09:16:00.001-08:00

First up, we'd like to add our congrats to everyone stateside who voted for change - I'll be honest, after last time we were a little bit nervous over on this side of the pond!

Seems like everyone's jumping on the feelgood factor bandwagon. Take Dizzee Rascal for example - the East London MC made a hilarious cameo on last night's Newsnight, when he was asked to give his two pennies worth on the big O. Is Dizzee the first man to render Paxman speechless? Most probably.

Check it out:

Justice: upside your tellybox

2008-11-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

Excting news currently doing the rounds - Ed Banger big hitters Justice will be releasing a documentary / live CD set entitled 'A cross the universe' (see what they've done there) on November 24th.

If the following trailer is anything to go by (lesbians! norks! freestyling homeless man! guns! occasional bits of music!) you should be getting that request off to Santa quicksnap:

That's almost a sex wee scenario right there.

And just in case you need reminding quite how good they are live, check out this clip - with the guargantuan 'Genesis' seamlessly morphing into 'Phantom' - recorded live at 2007's uber festival Coachella:

Finally, enjoy this excellent remix while you wait patiently for the DVD to hit the shelves.

Justice - 'Genesis' (Datsu Remix)

No-one seems to know who this Datsu fella is, but fair play - this is massive. Enjoy.

Gui Boratto (Gooey Burrito if you're from Bolton)

2008-10-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

Listen to the latest episode of The ADN Project and you'll hear a glorious little slice of chilled out electronic goodness courtesy of Brazilian producer Gui Boratto.

That tune - 'Acrostico' - is but one of many winners on his latest record Chromophobia. I can't say I know much about him, but to say that I've been well impressed is to unleash an understatement of sizeable girth.

Check out this track, 'Beautiful Life'. Kompakt Records have very kindly offered this up for free, so download away without guilt! Honestly, this tune CANNOT fail to get you in a good mood. Essential. Nuff said.

Gui Boratto - 'Beautiful Life'

Bloc Party's 'Signs' is a tune. FACT.

2008-10-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

A few things that have been irritating us recently:

1.) People who deem it ok to emblazon 'philosophy' all over their facebook profile. Yes you enjoyed ~~an extended jolly in Australia funded almost entirely by Mummy and Daddy~~ a gap year, no it doesn't make vacuous statements like 'the juice was worth the squeeze' acceptable.

2.) People who finish sentences with FACT. No, just no.

3.) Bloc Party's Kele Okekere announcing to anyone who cares to listen that he's 'trying to be heroic, in an age of modernity'

For the purposes of this post, let's focus on point 3. First up, we like Bloc Party. A lot. Great band, big tunes, awesome live. And yet the nagging doubt never fully goes away. Might Kele actually be, well, a bit of a tit?

The Times' Pete Paphides put it better, when he described Kele's musings as 'the ennui of too many Shoreditch gallery openings' - cynical, sure, but pretty much spot on. It was something that hampered 'A Weekend In The City' (Kele detailing the horror of eating caviar in various East London hotspots was a particularly ill advised lyrical venture) but that, thankfully, has been rained in for Bloc Party's third set, 'Intimacy'.

It's a shame, cos here's a guy who can still pen lyrics that really hit home. Take 'Signs' for example. Taking on the thorny issue of the passing of a close friend, it's one of those tunes that floors you on first listen - electronic pulses and swelling strings combine with almost child-like lyrics to create a bonafide tearjerker.

"I see signs now all the time / that you're not dead you're sleeping / I believe in anything / that brings you back home to me"

That's sure to have all the Shoreditch massive weeping into their spray-on jeans.

Check out the live version (big up to Kele for the cheeky nod to Transformers. Big!):

Series 2, episode 7 out today!

2008-10-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Episode 7 in the second series of The ADN Project is out today. Check it out here:

http://adn.webradioworld.com/

On this week's show...

17 more sugar coated nuggets of ear candy, including music from Fleet Foxes, Metronomy, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, The Streets, The Long Blondes, Holy Fuck and Fujiya & Miyagi.

All the old favourites are correct and present, with Alex providing both album of the week (courtesy of Sheffield noiseniks Bromheads Jacket) and yet another installment of his soon to be infamous gig guide (London only, gutted).

Elsewhere, arguments rage over The Cult (see diagram), Christian takes yet more flak for his microphone head, Alex suffers from an apparent on-air lobotomy and Madonna takes a (wholly justified) pasting.

If that's still not enough, we also reveal the winner of our inaugral caption competition. And that's your lot. So there.

Tracklist

1.) Fujiya & Miyagi - 'Uh'

2.) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - 'Is This Home On Ice'

3.) The Long Blondes - 'Picture Of You In My Room'

4.) Holy Fuck - 'Royal Gregory'

5.) Oasis - 'Falling Down' (Chemical Brothers Remix)

6.) Fleet Foxes - 'Ragged Wood'

7.) Gui Buratto - 'Acrostico'

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BROMHEADS JACKET - 'ON THE BRAIN'

8.) Bromheads Jacket - 'Clear To Some'

9.) Bromheads Jacket - 'Yesterday's Antics'

10.) Metronomy - 'Heartbreaker'

11.) Roots Manuva - 'Let The Spirit'

12.) Little Man Tate - 'Man I Hate Your Band'

13.) The Von Bondies - 'Broken Man'

14.) Get Cape Wear Cape Fly - 'Moving Forward' (Live)

15.) The Last Shadow Puppets - 'My Mistakes Were Made For You'

16.) The Cult - 'She Sells Sanctuary'

17.) The Streets - 'The Escapist'

Have fun, be safe and enjoy

The ADN Team

Friendly Fires - not ungood

2008-10-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves Friendly Fires, right? Think Prince and Daft Punk inviting Mick Jagger along for a ribena soaked threesome. Seriously.

But as well as establishing themselves as purveyors of the finest hip-shaking indie pop we've heard in a good long while, it also turns out that the telented little rapscallions can make us laugh. Quite a lot actually. Their recent Myspace blog entries have been keeping all at ADN Towers thoroughly entertained over the last few weeks. Check them out here:

www.myspace.com/friendlyfires

St. Alban's finest also played a blinder on last night's 'Later....with Jools Holland', knocking out banging renditions of 'Paris' and 'Jump In The Pool'. Tom Jones didn't look overly impressed - thankfully he's shit, so nobody really cares.

Check it out for yourselves - Friendly Fires 'Paris' (live on 'Later...')

Friendly Fires play London's Koko on December 12th. Be there.

ADN giveaway mix #1

2008-10-16T15:13:00.001-07:00

When he's not destroying the competition in various microphone looky-likey competitions around the globe, ADN's Christian occasionally finds time to have a bit of a mix.

You'll be able to grab these mixes hot off the press, right here on the ADN blog. Mix #1 has been out for a little while, so we thought we'd offer it up while it's still here. Tracklist is thus:

1. Timo Maas - Ubik
2. Nitro - Violence (Rogue Element remix)
3. The Rapture - Devil (Alex Metric remix)
4. Digitalism - Idealistic (A-Trak remix)
5. Tom Vek - Nothing But Green Lights (Digitalism remix)
6. Coburn - We Interrupt This Programme (JCA remix)
7. Peace Division - Club Therapy
8. Micky Monzza - Bounce Baby (Deadmau5 remix)
9. Hot Chip - Over and Over (Solid Groove remix)
10. Mystery Jets - The Boy Who Ran Away (Riton Re-Rub)
11. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now (Redanka remix)
12. The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary (Freeland remix)
13. Unknown white label
14. Hybrid - I Choose Noise (Elite Force remix)
15. Crystal Method - Cherry (Deadmau5 remix)
16. The Chemical Brothers - Saturate
17. The Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax remix)

These carefully fused together tapestries of mind bending tuneage will be offered up fairly regularly from now on - don't ever say that we're anything other than the best blokes ever.

REVIEW: Kano's back at 140 Grime Street. Good move?

2008-10-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, Kano's last outing - 2007's 'London Town' - left most people feeling a bit deflated. Debut 'Home Sweet Home' gave us razor sharp lyrics effortlessly laid over track after track of grimey goodness . 'London Town' gave us Kate Nash and Craig David.

What's more, Kano's assault on the charts failed in fairly miserable fashion. Awkwardly straddling the gap between the underground scene which launched him and attempted mainstream success, Kano found himself in musical no man's land. 679 Records realised this too and in early 2008 they ~~got rid of~~ 'parted ways' with the East London MC.

Turns out, being dropped was a major blessing in disguise. Simply put, '140 Grime Street' is a glorious return to form. Released on Kano's own BPM Recordings, the record features an all-star grime cast, with genre heavyweights Wiley, Skepta, Ghetto and Mikey J all putting their stamp on the record. The Kano of old is back - the beats are faster, the delivery more aggressive, the bars sharper and the mood distinctly darker. Back in these familiar surrounds, Kano shines.

Lead single 'Hustler' is a grime anthem to rival 2005's seminal 'Ps & Qs', whilst the title track is an ominous call to arms which, depsite its menacing tone, still manages to namedrop McVities biscuits. Chocolate hobnobs are spice, and Kano knows it.

Elsewhere, 'The Wire' nerds will rejoice in 'Hunting We Will Go', a satisfyingly sinister tune which pays homage to the show's most notorious badass, Omar Little. The grime posturing and bravado is all correct and present here, but Kano still has a social conscience, no more so than on 'Don't Come Around Here', a scathing attack on those who have chosen to ignore the plight of many in grime's capital, London's East End.

As his myspace page now proudly proclaims, Kano lives at 140 Grime Street - let's hope he stays put for a good while yet.

Listen out for tracks from the new record on upcoming episodes of The ADN Project.

Dan

You're listening to The ADN Project...

2008-10-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

Alright. Welcome to the official ADN Project Online Radio blog ('official' implies that we're big enough to have unofficial spin offs. We're not.)

The concept has always been a simple one; to create a show without limitations. Where up and coming unsigned acts rub shoulders with established artists, where

As well as full details of new shows, this blog will be home to free mixes, reviews, mp3s, photos, Youtube amusement, tedious ramblings on a variety of topics, slanderous accusations and very occasional pearls of wisdom.

And so to the guilty parties...

Christian Nash

Dan Cooper

Alex Van Oostrum

...and finally, the extended ADN family...

Jimmy Tilley

Dan Brewington

Enjoy!