Suddenly it is hazy mid-summer complete with flies and sweaty heat. Whatever happened to those lovely warm, fresh air days of early summer - oh yes, that's right. It rained. However, the moon rising from the sea at Aldeburgh was pretty impressive.

DiagnÃstico Canalla - DiagnÃstico Canalla (Barcelona, Spain)
From their album "LA ESTACIÃN DE LAS MENTIRAS" (as a CD from their site for 8 euros).
In existence since : 06.2005
www.diagnosticocanalla.com
www.myspace.com/diagnosticocanalla

Oh No - KaiserCartel (New York, USA)
Courtney Kaiser (vocals, guitar, xylophone, keys)
Benjamin Cartel (vocals, guitar, drums, xylophone)
KaiserCartel's earthy blend of folk and rock will make you laugh, cry, sing along, and want to hold hands with the stranger next to you. Warm up by the fire with KaiserCartel.
Another of Ariel's great artists.
23 Jul The Beauty Bar, Austin, Texas
23 Jul Gypsy Hut, Cincinnati, Ohio
24 Jul Avant Garden, Houston, Texas
31 Jul Mama Java's Coffeehouse, Phoenix, Arizona
1 Aug Plush, Tucson, Arizona
2 Aug McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, California
3 Aug Anthology, San Diego, California
4 Aug The Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, California
11 Aug Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, Utah
14 Aug Shuga's, Colorado Springs, Colorado
21 Aug Schuba's, Chicago, Illinois
22 Aug Rudyard Kipling, Louisville
23 Aug The Gypsy Hut, Cincinnati, Ohio
www.kaisercartel.com/
www.myspace.com/kaisercartel

Brooke's Waltz - Don Ross (Ontario, Canada)
The son of a Scottish immigrant father and a Mi'kmaq aboriginal mother, Don was born in Montreal in 1960 into a musical family. He first started experimenting with the solo possibilities of the acoustic guitar at the age of eight. By age ten he was playing in alternate tunings and exploring "fingerstyle" technique, a right hand discipline similar to classical guitar playing. Preferring to write original music and develop a personal style, Don's self-taught journey on the instrument has encouraged him to follow his musical intuition. The result is an unclassifiable musical style that borrows from jazz, folk, rock and classical music. When asked, Don usually pigeonholes his music as "Heavy Wood"!
www.gobyfish.com
www.myspace.com/donross

When things go wrong â and they get put right it's almost better than them not going wrong in the first place! Alesis mixer, Plantronics headset both fixed as things should be. Minimum disruption.

I had a Rick Fowler track lined up that Jeremy and I have been enthusing about for the past couple of weeks, since his appearance on SnC 124, then, as I was prepping, I came across this on the PMN. It blew me totally away.

Feel So Much Better - Rick Fowler (Georgia, USA)
Rick Fowler's musical honesty creates an unsurpassed morphic resonance between him and his listeners. With a raw soul reminiscent of early Johnny Winter and aural suspense akin to Trower, Fowler delivers the energy, joy, anger and torment found in the very best of blues-rock. Preacher is from his album Back on my good foot available direct from his site or from CD Baby. Credit due to all musicians on the album:
BASS: Michael C. Steele
DRUMS: Gerry Hansen,
Bill Berry
B3: Tim White,
Randall Bramblett
2ND GUITAR: Jonathan Dorsey
RESONATOR: Michael C. Steele
BG VOCS: Sherry Joyce, Michael C. Steele
http://rickfowler.com/
www.myspace.com/rickfowlerband

The next track has lots of reference to the sounds of Marley when I was with the band clavinet through wah-wah and a clear nod in the direction of session maestro Wayne Perkins for his transforming guitar breaks on the Catch a Fire album which I think very cleverly made the Marley reggae breakthrough possible with a rather jaded European audience.

Marley - Danakil (France)
Formed in 2000 by 8 students from around Paris they have crept up to be a nine piece band:
Chant : Balik
Sax : Das (le coach)
Trompette : Tom-Tom
Trombone : Big keuj'
Basse : Massif-Boris
Batterie : Titi (le Duc)
Guitare : Papa Dus
Guitare : Fab'
Claviers : Smarties
After a while gigging they self-produced their 2006 debut album Microclimat. The new 12 track album Dialogue de sourds which is available as CD or MP3 download from their site where you can hear the other tracks before you buy. Also on Jamendo
www.danakilweb.com/
www.myspace.com/danakilweb
 
Mystery of Mister tba is solved - and the shownotes for SnC126 updated.

Valse Chromatique - Nico Spahni (Switzerland)
Prematurely born on a cold yet allegedly sunny November morning in 1972, the artist took to shaking his baby shaker at an early age and has been dabbling in manifold music styles, ranging from ambient electronica and experimental improvisation to music for film and contemporary dance, ever since. More music and videos can be found at www.myspace.com/nicospahni

Call me Moon - Sputnik has Crashed (over a field of virgins) (Rouen, France)
Prozac for masses est le premier album de Sputnik has crashed (over a field of virgins). Ce avant tout un projet, une Ãbauche, juste pour me mettre le pied à l'Ãtrier et me forcer à rÃaliser des productions plus propres.
Prozac for masses est initialement publià avec 3 morceaux, mais il donnera le jour à une nouvelle tentative, comprenant notamment les mÃmes morceaux mais retravaillÃs plus tard.
Call me moon est un titre qui fait honneur à une charmante jeune fille qui m'a Ãmu bien que je ne l'ai jamais rencontrÃe (Ãa arrive).
www.myspace.com/sputnikhascrashed

Did you hear PC Podcast this week. Oh, Mr Cogle, the most entertaining first few minutes of PC Podcast I've heard in ages! Poor old Codger seemed to be rather tired and emotional.
http://pcpodcast.blogsome.com/

All hands on deck - Rigel (Madison, USA)
Shay Carlson- Fiddle,
Mark Bilhorn- Guitar/Mando,
Evan Carlson- Keyboards.
David Steinweg- Drums/Percussion
Rigel is a four member Celtic band playing a variety of instruments including fiddle,keyboard,guitar,mandolin, and drums. Rigel was formed in the spring of 2007 and just released their first CD self titled Rigel. They consider themselves a Celtic rock, jam band and fiddle band. Visit their website for more details:
www.rigelband.com

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A quirky selection from around the globe again. Finding the tracks is certainly enjoyable; I just need another day a week to do it!  

SkamÃtxalo - Vagos Permanentes (Alcalà de Henares, Spain)
In existence since : 05.2005
www.vagospermanentes.com

"Ouvrez grand vos oreillesâ - Jamendo. What a great slogan.

Honestly - Nancy Moran (Tennessee, USA)
The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch called Moran "nothing short of a [modern-day] Joni Mitchell" and "a major creative force to be reckoned with." Dirty Linen says Nancy has "a powerful, expressive voice...stunning." Something Old, Something New is her 4th solo release and can be yours for $14.97 from CD Baby via her site.
www.nancymoran.com/
www.myspace.com/nancymoran

Dirty Dog - Mister tba aka Boo Boo Davis (Illinois, USA)
just three guys
i play sing and play harmonica
one plays drums
one plays guitar
you don't know my name......
I am a survivor and belong to one of the last generations of musicians that write and play the blues based on first hand experience of a hard life in the Mississippi Delta. In the early sixties I went north to St Louis and was around during the heyday of the St Louis music scene (Albert King, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry and many others).
During my childhood there was no time or money for me to go to school so I never learned to read and write. (Yes I have some help with this !!). However that did not prevent me to travel all over the world. Following my guiding spirit (Dave) I have found a way to deal with modern society. The blues helps me to keep my spirit high and survive day-to-day life.
www.myspace.com/booboodavis

Back in late May I played a track by Jennifer Greer called Ocean Liner. Today I heard that Triplexity had released a new album, Live in Triplex City which included a track that is based on Invited one of the other tracks on Jennifer's album. It features Jennifer's vocals beautifully meshed with characteristically restrained, almost sparse layered components in Triplexity"s music.

Invited - Triplexity (France?)
(With Jennifer Greer)
Triplexity is Nikila, SaReGaMa and Hamelin BÃrengnier.
The word Triplexity is combined of two words: triplex and complexity. Triplexity is a virtual band, its members never met each other face to face, all the collaborations came to live thru the Internet. Every member comes from a different musical background, together, they blend their knowledge and inspiration and give life to their unique music with a fresh new sound.
http://triplexity.blogspot.com/

Note from Pete Miller - loops? What loops? (Australia)

Animals will hurt you - Control Escape (Ithaca, NY, USA)
Control Escape are releasing their debut LP Generation of Waste, today, July 16, 2008 on Weasel Land Records.
Full of double meaning and self-deprecation Generation of Waste comments on the young American experience.  From the addled addict, "It ain't like I wanted it.  It ain't like I'm good.... I'm back on the drugs," (Back on the Drugs) to the homesick soldier, "Sittin' in Iraq with an MRE/ yeah, Big Mac/ when I get back," (Iraq) the songs portray a generation coping with their inherited future.
In support of their upcoming release Control Escape has been performing on local and college radio including Cornell University's WVBR.  Erased, an early release from the album, is getting frequent play on internet radio.
Their quirky music video for track 2 Kenny's Big Adventure has been picked up by BlankTV.com and CGN7 in Portland, Oregon. Political ballad Iraq is available for free download on garageband.com: www.garageband.com/artist/controlescape
www.controlescapemusic.com/
www.myspace.com/controlescape

Lakaboura berceuse afro - Myriam "Jah B" Matoussi (Tunisia)
from her album In Trees, one of quite a few on Jamendo.
Chanteuse tunisienne amoureuse de la nature nÃe dans les montagnes en 1982 prÃs de Byzerte, sa voix douce et envoutante nous emporte dans un voyage vers des pays inconnus et lointains, toujours mystÃrieux; avec coeur Ãmotions et ressenti; dans un ensemble de plages hÃtÃroclites.
Le mÃtissage de ses musiques donne une colorità musicale dont le nuancier n'a pas de limites.
Ces albums regroupent l'ensemble de ses influences musicales, liÃes par l'Ãlectronique.
Le jazz, le classique et les musiques du monde constituent la matiÃre premiÃre d'un travail de collage (cut-up) non coformiste, impressioniste et transformiste à l'huile d'Olive. Dans sa rÃalistation, Dreadd y insere des ambiances, ses propres sons , une atmosphere orientale ornÃe de culture jungle qui se marient parfaitement bien avec la maitrise de la composition musicale de Sir Giwo aka Gywonimo qui permet d'y inserer des petites choses dÃglinguÃes, voir dÃjantÃes.
If you found it interesting get over to Jamendo and take a listen, the tracks are very varied in style, origin and sound.
www.jamendo.com/en/artist/Myriam_Matoussi

Droga 2003 - THC-X (NamysÅÃw, Poland)
From their album Muzykanci (Jamendo)
www.thcx.art.pl/

Dancing with my brother - Entire Cities (Ontario, Canada)
Entire Cities are riding high on the success of their latest album, Deep River, the product of ten musicians using banjos, violins, flutes, pianos, minimoogs, singing saws, trombones, whatever else they saw fit to bring their work to life. The result is a heady mix of country, indie, gospel and rock.
SIMON BORER -Guitar, Vox, RUHEE DEWJI -Flute, Horns, Vox, TAMARA LINDEMAN -Banjo, Vox, BRENDAN HOWLETT -Bass, Trumpet, PAUL McCRADY -Vox, Keys, Glock and PAUL WEADICK -Drums, Vox
Long distance members:
JOSH LYON -Keys, Accordion, Vox, STEFANIE BRUCE -Singins Saw, Autoharp and DAVID MISSIO -Guitar
Available now at Soundscapes in Toronto, Brian's Record Option and Made 4 You in Kingston and online at Zunior.com
www.entirecities.ca
www.myspace.com/entirecities

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A focus on some fine acoustic music (along with some great electric rock) this week as an equipment failure and lots of changes in the set-up create a rather different sound, I think.
One of the most powerful rainbows I've seen over the house last night - when there was sun as well as rain. Tonight. Just rain, and lots of it for the past 15 hours and counting. Enjoy the music!

Same ol' bend - Sheila SondergÃrd (California, USA)
From her album Spoke too loud.
Picking up the trumpet at the age of 9 and the guitar at 11 cannon-balled Sheila SondergÃrd into something she couldn't wait to 'tap'. Having been inspired by each of her diverse and contrasting homes and drenched in exotic cultures her style has evolved as a copasetic [Copacetic: in excellent order - early 20th century of unknown origin. So now we know!] melting-pot of genres such as: Classical, Reggae, Folk, Rock n Roll, Punk, and many others. Sheila is not only a musician, but she holds down three jobs and in her spare time, she works on cars, & professionally trains horses. This seemingly lends to a common sense in Sheila's lyrics and music that both men and women can relate to. Becoming a staple of the SD music scene over the past 5 years, Sheila has had the opportunity to play aside many amazingly, talented artists at many great and diverse venues. She also hosts one of San Diego"s most popular and longest running open mics for 10-12 local musicians every week. Sheila is ready to bring her music to the world, and we hope you can help to be a vessel in which that is possible! And as always, thank you for supporting independent music.
www.sheilasondergard.com/
www.myspace.com/sheilasondergard
 
View from the N16 - Peter Miller (Queensland, Australia)
Hailing from Australia, fingerstyle guitarist Peter Miller is a player that has been inspired by the styles of Phil Keaggy, Bruce Cockburn and many of the players like Michael Hedges from the Windham Hill label that brought us such greats as Will Ackerman and many more...
"It's very flattering that reviewers can pick up that I'm inspired by such players I owe a lot to those sort of players." says Peter.
His playing has a tasteful use of space, without being underplayed.
His live performances are a mixture of solo and layered guitar pieces using a loopstation (JamMan) to build the multiple guitar parts.
Peter has received great responses from fellow musicians and reviewers
for his 2007 release  "From A Distant Shore".
www.peter-miller.com/
www.myspace.com/petermillerguitarstyle
http://cdbaby.com/cd/petermiller

Mangue sauvage - Abakuya (France)
The musical project Abakuya was born with the meeting of two musicians, Jimi Sofo (Australia) and FranÃois Essindi (Cameroon), and took place in 2006 thanks to an exchange travel organized by the Akiba Association in Cameroon. Other musicians came in turn and decided to travel together...
www.myspace.com/abakuya

The Frog and the Princess - Brent Lewis (Joshua Tree, California, USA)
Journey of Souls is Brent Lewis' newest CD. Master melodic drummer, Brent Lewis has created a new dimension in music. He uses his one and only melodic drums as the lead instrument surrounded by beautiful counter point melodies and harmonies.
Brent's life is his music, and the study of tribal rhythms. His education has been intense and in-depth studying with drum masters in different parts of the world. His experience studying with the master professor Mr. Kwasi Badu of Ghana, Africa, was profound and very meaningful. Brent has travelled throughout Africa to study the roots of African music, tribal ceremonies and rhythms. His music takes ancestral rhythms from all over the world and combines them for a unique world beat.
www.brentlewis.com/
www.myspace.com/brentlewisusa

15 minutes - Mal Fry (Suffolk, UK)
I am a Singer songwriter from Suffolk, England and have been playing guitar for 8 years and writing songs for 7 years. Started playing live Sep 1999 (nerve wracking or what!) now have regular gigs in the local area.
Well after 10 years of trying finally a modicum of success. A Dutch TV show called Hello Goodbye about Schiphol airport has used 2 of my songs "You Were There" and "In Your Arms" on 3 episodes so it just goes to show it's worth persevering.
www.castmp3.com/mal_fry
www.myspace.com/malvanmusic
www.cdbaby.com/cd/malfry

Grounded - Ruth Theodore (London, UK)
A singer/songwriter like no other. With words as dangerous as her guitar playing, Ruth Theodore reminds us why songwriting is important in the first place. Refreshingly original and relentlessly imaginative. - River Rat Records Debut album Worm Food. 13 tracks of beautifully twisted, political and personal mayhem. River Rat Records supports Creative Commons. If you like what you hear, please consider buying a CD. Their releases are packaged beautifully and manufactured using 100% recycled card. Â9.99
www.ruththeodore.com

Bees and flowers / Joe Smallwood's Reel - Duane Andrews (Newfoundland, Canada)
Heavily influenced by the brilliance of early twentieth century French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Duane Andrews' unique blend of jazz and traditional Newfoundland folk music is consistently recognized by both industry and fans with awards and accolades. A couple of duo performance with Icelandic guitarist Bjorn Thoroddsen are coming up.
14 July Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
19 July The Evergreen Theatre, East Margaretsville, Nova Scotia
www.duaneandrews.ca/
www.myspace.com/duaneandrews
http://cdbaby.com/cd/duaneandrews2

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Intro
Happy - Jimmie Bratcher (Missouri, USA)
www.jimmiebratcher.com/

Some amazing light on the sea at Aldeburgh.

At the salon - The Mome Raths (Illinois, USA)
Daniel Rath - Guitar & Vocals
Tracey Rath - Bass & Vocals
Sister Rath - Vocals & style
Boss Rath - Drums & Handclaps
The Mome Raths play raw, poppy, fast, catchy, garage punk rock that you can bust a move to, or at least we try. We like to sing about pretty random stuff. We're not the best musicians in the world but we make up for it in some way or another. We like to have fun and not take ourselves too serious cause if you ask us the music scene already has enough self obsessed overblown egos to go around.
www.myspace.com/ilikethemomeraths

Nobody makes it overnight - The Alice Project (New York, USA)
NY-based band that specializes in melodic, hooky, tuneful pop/rock. ... Alice Leon is a singer and songwriter who's been creating smart appealing songs for one million years. ALICE WANTS TO THANK THE "POD PEOPLE" for beaming in from outerspace and creating GOOD radio for earthlings.
http://thealiceproject.com/

Martin Baker was listening to Radio 4 in his car this week when, as he says,
"There was an item about The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, six guys and two girls who play ukuleles of various sizes. I've just Googled them and there are several of their videos there - Wuthering Heights, Orange Blossom, Life on Mars, etc.. Though you might like to listen to something different."
Yes, they were indeed on Radio 4 last weekend and I have a request in for a track or two to play on the show. The only potential problem is that they tend to play "covers" of popular songs and so copyright clearance could be a nightmare (and expensive) but I'm working on it. When I say "covers" I'm using the term in its loosest sense. I'm particularly fond of Should I stay or should I go? and Teenage Kicks - transformed into something quite else. Definitely "loose covers".
www.ukuleleorchestra.com
 
Spill - Annie Goliath (London, UK)
The engaging music of Annie Goliath is urban poetry unravelling. Based in London, this vocalist/ musician has teamed up with the experimental artist known as Digital Freakswing. The result is alternative electronica soundscapes with deep undercurrents of rock and dance pulsing through...ELECTRIC!
www.myspace.com/anniegoliath

Merde - Tour de France (Los Angeles, USA))
Tour De France is the songwriting team of Bernadette Colomine and Samuel H Collin. Based in Los Angeles, California, Tour De France composes original songs in French. Sam and Bernadette share a mutual passion for writing hook driven songs.
www.myspace.com/bctourdefrance

It sounds as though Paul "The Grumblerâ over at Music and Mumblngs (mumu.grumbling-dragon.com) has a great time at the Yael Naim gig in San Francicsco last week. Just as I would have expected.

Dance - Nikila (France)
Passion pour la montagne et l'art sous toutes formes
From the album #1 (Jamendo)
http://nikilart.blogspot.com/

Freon Cowboy - Bourland
Bourland is from Austin, Texas formerly of The Texas Philistines, he now has his own band featuring DJ Buffalo Phil, Buster Gutbucket, Sick and Mojo playing a disctinctive brand of Hillbilly Hick Hop.
What is Hillbilly Hick Hop, you say?
Pseudo country music with hip hop beats and a DJ scratching. Add a washtub bass and your on your way! Basically, I like DJ music, drum loops, country music, bluegrass and punk rock. I like bands like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Beastie Boys, The Sex Pistols, Scott H. Biram, The Weary Boys, Beck, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard etc...
www.hillbillyhickhop.com/
www.myspace.com/bourlandmusic

Gas prices in the USA. Bourland reports that Opal Devine"s venues around Austin are suspending music for the summer. Distances? really feeling the pinch? Have you noticed any changes to gigs?

Blue Blue - Serpentone (Oregon, USA)
Played Get Free from the "studio" in Porto de Soller back in early May (SnC 116).
Band formed in 2004, with the longest standing members being Erika (vox/songwriting/guitar-playing/diva-bitch), Cyrus (original drummer, who has done fill-in work since 2005), and most recently, the adorable multitasking almost-sober chick-magnet bassist known as Skot. Somehow, these three managed to eke out time on Sundays during 2007 to record an album of sorts at Marty Vincelli's "Big House." Which is a house, that is big. Many amazing musicians have supported this band by filling the rhythm slots for live shows, including Carl Keil, Morgan Grace, Sam Henry, Tom Drama, Tim Flanary, Carl Keil, nolan void, and Susan Costa.
www.serpentone.com
www.myspace.com/serpentone

"When I play a note on my guitar and it sustains just right - for a few seconds. I have everything I need for this world."
Preacher - Rick Fowler (Georgia, USA)
Rick Fowler's musical honesty creates an unsurpassed morphic resonance between him and his listeners. With a raw soul reminiscent of early Johnny Winter and aural suspense akin to Trower, Fowler delivers the energy, joy, anger and torment found in the very best of blues-rock. Preacher is from his album Back on my good foot available direct from his site or from CD Baby. Credit due to all musicians on the album: BASS: Michael C. Steele
DRUMS: Gerry Hansen,
Bill Berry
B3: Tim White,
Randall Bramblett
2ND GUITAR: Jonathan Dorsey
RESONATOR: Michael C. Steele
BG VOCS: Sherry Joyce, Michael C. Steele
http://rickfowler.com/
www.myspace.com/rickfowlerband

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A rather/even more quirky selection than usual this week. I've been exploring a few genres that I'm not really that familiar with. Really listening opens up whole new landscapes of music to explore.
Artois woke up briefly (See photo) to have some food but otherwise has slept soundly since 08:30 yesterday Wed) morning!

Weekend Tongue - Donora (Pennsylvania, USA)
Jake H. met Casey a few hours after she was born. He was disappointed she was a girl and cried. Eighteen years later he got over it, and they started a band with another Jake that played bass. They became Donora and together they make melodic, dance-worthy, garage rock.
www.donoramusic.com/
www.myspace.com/donora

The High Road - Sharon Robinson (California, USA)
Singer/songwriter/producer Sharon Robinson releases her debut solo album "Everybody Knows" on August 19, 2008. The long-time collaborator of Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen won a GRAMMY in 1985 for "New Attitude" by Patti Labelle.
www.sharonrobinsonmusic.com/
www.myspace.com/sharonrobinsonmusic

Tusuka Bay - Ambiguous Dreams (UK)
AD, is a two piece ambient instrumental project, from England (UK). The project began in late 05, when AD's music was produced through a college controlled version of Cubase 1.  Taking influence from the sounds of Akira Yamaoka's Silent Hill creations and Random Juxtaposition AD's audio output is a a maelstrom of genres, including; Ambient, NU Age, Drum & Bass, Metal and more.
www.myspace.com/roubmewsick

You bought song for a dollar - The Go Ahead And (Vermont, USA)
Seriously funny music about non-serious, frequently geeky topics, such as foot fetishes, boring people, and forbidden love on the Death Star.
The Go Ahead And is a comedy pop band who masquerades as a group of rascally young hooligans; however, all of the wacky musical hijinks perpetrated by The Go Ahead And are actually the product of just one person: Joel Abbott. Joel Abbott's story as a musician begins a few months after he was born, when his parents took him to a stoned fortuneteller at a hippie art fair in Boulder, Colorado, and the fortuneteller said "when this baby grows up he will use music to express himself." True story.
www.thegoaheadand.com
www.myspace.com/thegoaheadand

Waitress Song - Jen Lowe (Georgia, USA)
Jen Lowe is a sincere songwriter who writes straight from the heart.  Her lyrics are direct and thoughtful, as she wastes no time getting the heart of the matter.  Having been a full time touring percussionist and drummer with many national acts,  Jen's sense of the song writing process is strong.  She comes to you from Atlanta, GA where she has played and been influenced by great artists such as Angie Aparo, Keni Thomas, Jason Mraz, and Tristan Prettyman.  Her stage presence is larger than life as she engages the audience in a story, a witty comment, or just her keen ability to entertain. 
Jen is pleased to bring to her audience her first record entitled "From The End Of This Hallway."  Produced by Tim Acres and mixed by Steve Rizzo, this album will take you in from the first note.  Whether on the stage or in the studio, Jen takes you on her journey that will leave remembering her sentiments for a long time. 
www.myspace.com/jenjenlowe

Beaumont is alive - Dr Kananga
From the two track album (what is an album these days) Post-apocolyptic merry melodies
Dr Kananga, conspirateur au sein des Space Jahourt vous a prÃparà une cuisine Ãlectro qui sent bon le old school à base de hip hop, trip hop et un soupson de Jungle. Comme dirait l'autre on ne fait pas de la nouvelle cuisine et mÃme si certaines plages peuvent sembler lounge c'est pour mieux rebondir aprÃs. Les beats sont lourds, les samples de cuivres et de violons sont jazzy et les synthÃs fleurent bon la fin des 70s. Le tout est accompagnà de ses transitions -Entremets à base de zapping tÃlà improbable.

Beginner's Luck - Lindalou and Michael Ryge (California, USA)
From the album Beginner's Luck which was originally released in 2003. They finally got around to releasing it on Jamendo in April 2008.
Wild spirited teenagers surprise themselves decades later with this CD of close harmonies, true stories and adventures reflecting their love for life and each other.
They've made old men cry, and young women laugh, and vice versa. Their music, while almost all acoustic, is diverse in styles, from instrumental to A cappella, from story songs and love ballads to quirky autobiographical tales.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/llmr

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A frantic week since ... er... last week's show with the summer Podcrawl in London on Friday, being social at the weekend and a crazy but necessary trip to Glasgow (pictured) yesterday, it's no wonder that I feel a bit more "odd" than usual. Glasgow seemed to me to be changing ... into  a showcase for innovative architecture but at the cost of losing its distinctive look and feel. In a few years every major city will have copied the styles of buildings and at that point they will look fresh and Glasgow will look tired with none of its traditional buildings remaining to save the day. Depressing.

No use for hate - Trick Seventeen (Germany)
From the self titled album from German pop/punk, melodic emo rockers Trick Seventeen. The album MAY be called Might as Well but it makes not a jot of difference. You can get it free from Jamendo at the click of a mouse from :
www.jamendo.com/album/4903?refuid=117934
www.myspace.com/trickseventeen

The past quite a few hours have been strange and exhausting. I did something that I argue fiercely against yesterday. One of the projects I am working on at the moment is not making the progress that it should be so I went on a day trip for a meeting with someone who may well be able to help. The only problem is that Kate was scheduled to be in Glasgow, Scotland from her base in Inverness, almost 200 miles of tortuous Scottish roads away. I'm in Suffolk, another 450 miles and 7 hours driving away. I'm reluctant to admit that I did the obvious thing, drove over to Stansted Airport and caught a one hour flight to Glasgow horribly early in the morning and came back in the evening. 21 hours non-stop travel and work with two climbs to 36,000 feet and the descents have taken their toll.
(Bedding track - Peter Greenstone Somewhere over Greenland)

Broken Symmetries - Peter Greenstone (Texas, USA)
Peter Greenstone is an independent musician, a singer/songwriter producing his own sound from his home studio in Austin, Texas. Freely stepping across and often defying genres, Peter mixes acoustic and synthetic sounds and tones to create an atmosphere in his music that is sometimes surreal, sometimes haunting, sometimes whimsical, but always personal. You can buy his album of the same name (Broken Symmetries) or any individual track through his site.
www.petergreenstone.com/

Calleso - Triplexity (mostly France, I think!)
Triplexity is Nikila, SaReGaMa and Hamelin BÃrengnier.
The word Triplexity is combined of two words: triplex and complexity. Triplexity is a virtual band, its members never met each other face to face, all the collaborations came to live thru the Internet. Every member comes from a different musical background, together, they blend their knowledge and inspiration and give life to their unique music with a fresh new sound.
http://triplexity.blogspot.com/

Sound quality in MP3 recordings like SnC
Benefit of getting better quality originals such as the FLAC files that Triplexity are producing. Much better form of compression. Explained by Saregama at:
http://saregama3.blogspot.com

Les Soldats - Tribuman and the Jammin' Orchestra (from Jamendo)
I played their track First Riddim' back in October last year high time for another. The electric piano through the wah-wah pedal reminds me rather strongly of one of the bands I worked with. While it's nice to hear a familiar sound and these days it triggers a smile, I'm, even more pleased that it quickly turns into something quite different and presents and worthwhile challenge to expectations.

Please Pass the Schnapps - Copper Box (Wisconsin, USA)
I played "Need a little squeezeâ from Copper Box a couple of weeks ago and suggested that we needed to hear another track soon. This is the one I was thinking of. (From the PMN)
www.copperboxsite.com/
www.myspace.com/copperboxband

Tic-toc - Manny (Luxembourg)
From Manny's Sideshow album. Recorded at Chez Manny by Luxembourg resident Scotsman Gordon Furguson aka Manny.
www.sideshowmanny.com

Come Clean - The Mexicolas (Birmingham, UK)
Been played by both Pete Cogle at PC Podcast and now by Colin Gazeley over at The Ourobourous Podcast and now at long last, here. They are:
Jamie Evans - Vocals / Guitars / Keyboards
Tim Trotter - Drums / Percussion
Del Carter - Bass
www.themexicolas.com
www.myspace.com/mexicolas

Message from The Grumbler and
New Song - Yael Naim
Bimbo's 365, San Francisco, next Tuesday 24th.
www.myspace.com/yaelnaim
www.yaelweb.com/

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A rum ol' mix of styles and tastes this week which I hope conspire to suit your mood. Do you find that your musical taste changes with your mood? Does your mood change with the music? Let me know, by a comment at the bottom of these notes, email or by the MyCHingo voice message system.
I've was photographing for a client in Aldeburgh (right), on the Suffolk coast, on Monday. It felt like grabbing the only chance to enjoy the town on a sunny day and yet in a relatively peaceful state before the "Hooray Henryâ brigade arrives for the summer.
 
Armens à dit - BÃzÃd'h (Mulhouse, France)
From their new album Les IlluminÃs.
IBÃzÃd'H, l'alliance de la guitare et du violon caricaturÃe comme : "DU FER DANS LA SOIE" Un savant mÃlange pour du Rock puisqu"il daigne enfin se marier aux prÃsents des musiques Celtiques. La noce des Ãnergies libÃre un fracassant bouquetâ Avec plus de 400 concerts à leur actif ils ont partagà l'affiche avec : STATUS QUO, EV, SALLY BAT DES AILES, LES WAMPAS, MAROUSSE, ALDEBERT, LES FILS DE TEPU, MERZHIN, BLACK BOMB Aâ C"est ensuite l'enchaÃnement de Festivals et de concerts rÃputÃs â â En Juillet 2005 ils rÃalisent un fabuleux concert au MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL. OCTOBRE 2007 : la sortie de leur nouvel album â  LES ILLUMINES  TELECHARGEMENTS GRATUITS.
Note: the link may generate pop-up ads for French supermarkets!
www.bezedh.com

Angels of Mercy - Mike Link/Harvey Taylor (Milwaukee, USA)
Normally I'm less than happy with crossover music (regardless of where it is crossing from or to) however, sometimes it just seems to work.A fascinating mix of styles in this track form Milwaukee-based studio duo (Mike Link on keys, etc, and  Harvey Taylor on trumpet), with guest artists (Holly Haebig on flute, Tom Plutshack on guitars)
.. groove-based tunes with trumpet improvisations, etc, fusing a jazz/blues approach to contemporary electronica...World music influences combine for an eclectic mix.
www.cdbaby.com/cd/linktaylor

I've been distracted this morning by news that daughter Jessie's hotel room in Ibiza was burgled while she was at work last night.
Lost her treasured laptop and iPod. Hotel security appears not to be all that it might be  - experiments showed that a few keys open more than the expected number of room doors.

Ballarine - David (Montpellier, France)
From his album Experimental released through Jamendo right at the end of last year.
www.myspace.com/davidchapel

Three chords - Jimmie Bratcher (Missouri, USA)
If you've been listening for a long time, you've heard Jimmie every week for the past two and a half years. Happy is the show theme. Here's another more bluesy track.
www.jimmiebratcher.com

Fun Tashlikh - Faren Khan (Paris, France)
Faren Khan is a group of cosmopolitan musicians, as surprising as they are atypical. They have found each other in France, some of them in exile from their native Spain and United States, others closer to their Mediterranean and Eastern European roots.In the image of the legendary Faren Khan - the mysterious bandit who once wandered the land from Belarus to Hungary and Romania on the back of his fierce swine, the group leads you through its remarkable and eccentric universe.
Amidst traditional melodies from the Balkans and Mediterranean, we hear influences of American jazz, the Middle East and India. A nomadic path for the most nomadic of musicâ.Klezmer music.
www.myspace.com/farenkhan

Note from Kimo
www.sellaband.com/kimo-watanabe/

Talkers - Entire Cities (Ontario, Canada)
Entire Cities are riding high on the success of their latest album, Deep River, the product of ten musicians using banjos, violins, flutes, pianos, minimoogs, singing saws, trombones, whatever else they saw fit to bring their work to life. The result is a heady mix of country, indie, gospel and rock.
SIMON BORER -Guitar, Vox, RUHEE DEWJI -Flute, Horns, Vox, TAMARA LINDEMAN -Banjo, Vox, BRENDAN HOWLETT -Bass, Trumpet, PAUL McCRADY -Vox, Keys, Glock and PAUL WEADICK -Drums, Vox
Long distance members:
JOSH LYON -Keys, Accordion, Vox, STEFANIE BRUCE -Singins Saw, Autoharp and DAVID MISSIO -Guitar
14 Jun Cadillac Lounge - NXNE     Toronto, Ontario
21 Jun Skeleton Park Music Festival     Kingston, Ontario
29 Jun Sneaky Dee's - Wavelength w. Hot Panda     Toronto, Ontario
Available now at Soundscapes in Toronto, Brian's Record Option and Made 4 You in Kingston and online at Zunior.com
www.entirecities.ca
www.myspace.com/entirecities

Podcrawl on Friday. "Oh dear, dear, dear ..."

Yep - Nikila (Grenoble, France)
Passion pour la montagne et l'art sous toutes formes
From the album #1 (Jamendo)
http://nikilart.blogspot.com/

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Nordgarden in session at the Barn

In these occasional shows artists drop by to have a bit of a chat about what they are doing, what makes them tick and, of course, to play a few tunes live for us.

The guest at The Barn for this session is Terje Nordgarden who is really living the life of an artist with something to say. He tours almost continuously with loyal followings developing in Italy, Poland, Holland and the UK, not to mention his native Norway.

We were delighted to have Terje stay over with us for a couple of nights
(between Springsteen concerts!). We also fitted in a gig at the Winelight Club and a short radio session for the BBC. I've not previously seen a producer behind the glass shout out and applaud after a song, live on air.

Terje plays three songs from his excellent current album The Path of Love:
Up the Hillside
The Path of Love
So far away

Find out more about Nordgarden at: www.myspace.com/nordgarden

---

Recording engineer: Jeremy Gugenheim.
Show in/out: Lil Diddley Vamp - DJOC http://oregonchad.com

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Some people have suggested that the show is eclectic. Listening to this week's selection, I think they could be right. Music from Canada, Texas, London, Germany, New York and Norway.

Les fantÃmes â David Jalbert (Canada)
Auteur-compositeur-interprÃte.
David Jalbert naÃt le 5 mai 1980 à RiviÃre des Prairies et passe la majeure partie de sa vie à Mascouche dans LanaudiÃre. DÃs sa tendre enfance, la musique est omniprÃsente au foyer; son pÃre, un guitariste passionnÃ,
www.davidjalbert.ca/

She Walks On Water - Love = Action (Texas, USA)
Love = Action is the current solo project of singer/songwriter Jacoby Jennings. The sound of the music is a collision of organic and electronic instruments but the constant is the honesty that flows through every song. Rather reminds me of The Blue Nile.
www.myspace.com/loveisaction

On and On -  Naama Hillman (London, UK)
Naama Hillman played the Winelight Club in Norwich on Friday â a very subtle, restrained, acoustic and moving set for which I offer my thanks. Nominated for an Indie Music Award recentlyOn and On is from her 2004 album Living room. She has a new five track acoustic EP (In Between the Lights)  available right now for free download from her site and a new album on the way. That's something to look forward to.  
www.naamahillman.com

Musik Macht - akustikfilm (Germany)
From nature's sample board to urban voices and echoes. akustikfilm collects soundscapes on this planet and transforms them into musical film. All music by akustikfilm is licensed under creative commons (by-nc-nd)
 
Note from Erika of Serpentone whose song Get Free I played a couple of weeks ago "thank you for that exposure on your wonderfully eclectic podcast! Much appreciated."   'Ere who you calling eclectic?"

Quit Quittin'  - Andy Mullen (New York, USA)
Acoustic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andy Mullen is here to put the "song" back in "songwriter," the "blue" back in "bluegrass," and the "alcohol" back in "alcoholic."
His new album, "The Toenail Jar" is available for a free digital download at his website.
http://andymullenmusic.com/

Lovely note from Mune of Butumbaba (Sin Capitan on last weekâs show) pointing out my inability to read the bleedinâ obvious. Of course MAJIKONVINAZION (which I even mis-spelt on the SnC shownotes isnât unpronoucable at all!
It means âmagical combinationâ yes, of course it does!
www.butumbaba.com.ar

The Bumber Sticker Song - Last November (Georgia, US)
They released their debut album, All the Gory Details, with Atlanta's Southern Tracks Records, founded by the late, legendary music publisher Bill Lowery. For years, the Label has developed a solid reputation of discovering and developing new talent. The album is a compilation of honest, thought-provoking lyrics that echo passionately through the voice of lead singer Luke Pilgrim. Last Novemberâs 2nd album Over the Top or Under the Weather is produced by Steven Haigler at the renowned Southern Tracks Studio in Atlanta, home to such artists as Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Train, The Bravery, and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (who recorded their 2007 milestone CD, Magic, at the studio) and mastered by Rodney Mills.
www.lastnovember.com

From Corrientes
Hi Peter :) Thanks for playing A Big Dose of Ideas and Vibe :)
It was very cool that you reversed the vocals in Vibe to see what I was saying! lol...  We actually are playing out about once or twice a month in NYC, Brooklyn, and Long Island. Hope you enjoy the rest of the week! ttysoon, -Ivette

Oh Brother - Nordgarden (Hamar, Norway)
From his current album The Path of Love.
Live Session at the Barn with Nordgarden will probably go up onto this feed at the weekend.
Benefit of subscribing â you get it as soon as it is released.
www.myspace.com/nordgarden

Sorry Simon - Jonny Dongel (New York, USA)
Jonny Dongel was born in Bristol England in 1973 to an English mother and Irish father. He lived in Bristol until his late teens. After "Sodding Up" his A-levels and any chance at a proper future he moved to London where he spent a decade as a working class hero in nearly every pub and restaurant. From his album The fifth of nowhere
http://jonnydongel.com/

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A bit thin on the PMN this week but fortunately Jamendo is looking really good these days. Tracks from USA, Australia, Argentina and France. Getting set up this week with my chum Jeremy Gugenheim for another Session at the Barn. (Looks about right!)

Lordy Lord â Davis Coen (Tennessee, USA)
Blues circuit guitarist/singer Davis Coen's most recent accomplishments have included original music on the DVD release of Martin Scorsese`s PBS special 'The Blues'; backup work on the last release by Jesse Mae Hemphill, entitled 'Dare You To Do It Again'
OK, so I played Davis Coen on SnC 115 a month or so ago. Heâs simply very, very good.
www.daviscoen.com/

La Mar - The Beautiful Girls (Sydney, Australia)
"Music is a weird thing," says frontman and creative powerhouse Mat McHugh. "If you're doing it right, you're only trying to respect the spirit of it, but it seems that every step in making it is a compromise of ego and industry. Maybe you never actually get there."
I suppose we benefit from their trying. Had this on my PMN playlist for a few weeks.
Find their details at:
www.thebeautifulgirls.com/

Spectacular storm last night.

Sin Capitan â Butumbaba (Santa Fe, Argentina)
Found on Jamendo which proved itself to be a wonderful melting pot of styles and genres.
Desde su formaciÃn en 1993 en la ciudad de Santa Fe, Argentina, Butumbaba es una banda que se ha dedicado a la investigaciÃn y experimentaciÃn de los ritmos derivados y afines al Ska y al Reggae. A lo largo de estos aÃos, en un trabajo constante, la banda va sufriendo.
Their latest album Majiukakonvinazion is available at a few outlets in Santa Fe (Compactos, Musitop, X-Bomb, Zero extreme shop, Visual, Margat, Ropa & Roll and Magaforce) plus a whole load in and around Buenos Aires. If thatâs not quite where you are, there are quite a few on-line stores listed on the bandâs website and a pretty good video at:   
www.butumbaba.com.ar/
www.myspace.com/butumbaba

Vibe - Corrientes (New York, USA)
All Corrientes music is recorded, mixed, and produced by Ivette Torres in a home studio. Ivette is a Cuban-American, born in NY
âI sang something and then reversed it and ended up liking how it sounded backwards
so I kept it like that.
I donÂt even remember what I was saying forward.
I have to find the sample one of these days and reverse it back
to figure out what I had originally meant to say.â
One temptation too far! I-ve reversed the track in the final 10 seconds or so to reveal the original song. On Jamendo.
www.corrientesmusic.com

Les femmes nues â Luc Blanvillain (Orlaix, France)
Can tell you very little except that this is the third track on the album Luc et les immigrÃs, also on Jamendo.

Notes from Amy B from Gold Box Kingdom in San Francisco whose track I played last week In the shownotes but check: www.amybmusic.com

Catgut whose quirky and excellent Spiders also got into last weekâs show tells me that heâs got an new EP in preparation and should have it done over the summer. Definitely something to look forward to. If you canât wait youâll find good stuff at:
www.littlecatgut.com

Les champs de roses - Danakil (France)
Formed in 2000 by 8 students from around Paris they have crept up to be a nine piece band:
Chant : Balik
Sax : Das (le coach)
Trompette : Tom-Tom
Trombone : Big keuj'
Basse : Massif-Boris
Batterie : Titi (le Duc)
Guitare : Papa Dus
Guitare : Fab'
Claviers : Smarties
After a while gigging they self-produced their 2006 debut album Microclimat. The new 12 track album Dialogue de sourds which is available as CD or MP3 download from their site where you can hear the other tracks before you buy. Also on Jamendo
www.danakilweb.com/
www.myspace.com/danakilweb

Need a little squeeze - Copper Box (Wisconsin, USA)
A younger, more bluesy & jazzy version of the Texas Tornados fronted by a husband/wife duo Danny and Michelle Jerabek - the music is described as "polka-rock-Zydeco". There is another track that Iâm tempted to slip in soon. (From the PMN)
www.copperboxsite.com/
www.myspace.com/copperboxband

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A lot of music and quite a bit of it fairly downbeat and folky this week. To be honest, I've no idea why that should be and I sincerely hope you find the selection to be of interest.

The Polka - The Gin Riots (UK)
Named after the longest and hardest drinking session in living memory, The Gin Riots are a disparate bunch of boys who came together to get drunk and make music to get drunk to ...
12 Jun 2008  NXNE Festival - Toronto, Canada
13 Jun 2008  NXNE Festival @ Rancho Relaxo -  Toronto, Canada
14 Jun 2008  NXNE Festival - Toronto, Canada
15 Jun 2008  NXNE Festival - Toronto, Canada
21 Jun 2008  The Gin Riots' Gin Palace Party @ The Windmill, Brixton, London. Line up TBA
www.myspace.com/theginriots

Great escape or ill-advised socialisation therapy?

Ocean Liner - Jennifer Greer (Cambridge, MA)
Jennifer Greer is a self-taught, detail-obsessed singer/songwriter/pianist who has been singing since she was a little girl. Growing up in a suburb near New York City, poetry was her first love and artistic medium. At 25 she began to write music, being drawn to the piano like a magnet. She has since gone on to write about 5 albums worth of material, only 2 of which have been recorded. Jennifer's distinctive voice which soars from earthy and sensual to sweetly lush is show-cased in her last album The Apiary, which critics have called stunning. She is a Winner for Best Adult Alternative CD 2005 from the Muses Muse.
"The compelling reason to be in the unsigned issue is my band is trying to push boundaries of pop. We blend bits of jazz, funk and in classical what would be called a "tone poem". The songs deal with lots of subject matter from stuff in the news, characters from books, as well as personal experience. We work hard on being exciting and refreshing. we spend tons of attention to detail. Also, I co-run a music series in Cambridge that I founded, called IMC. So I am trying to make community happen and not just be into my career."
This track recorded live, a couple of weeks ago.
www.jennifergreer.com
www.artsomerville.org

Graffiti from Aliens - Kou Chou Ching (Taiwan)
Hi,We're a HipHop band from Taiwan. Our music is inspired by Taiwan traditional music elements. We bring samples of Taiwanese folk songs and traditional music elements and mix them in HipHop to create a very unique sound. Through our music, you can hear the voices of Taiwan.
www.myspace.com/koucc

Dragon Dance - Laurie Lester (Colerado, USA)
Placed first in the California State VOCE competition, placed in Long Beach Mozart Festival, Southern California Rotary Club International "Singer of the Year." Performs Elizabethan music/opera
Innkeeper by day at www.willowpondbnb.com
www.myspace.com/laurielester

Lazy Day - Gold Box Kingdom (featuring AMY B) (California, USA)
San Francisco based adult alternative pop/rock duo Gold Box Kingdom, featuring Amy Bruckmeier (aka Amy B), creates songs that range from confessional folk pop to cathartic trip hop. Songs are confident and provocative or bittersweet and brooding with unforgettable hooks. Produced by Jim Greer.
www.amybmusic.com/

Spiders - Catgut (UK)
From the album Brought to you by the letter Z.
Latest bio notes on the PMN simple say: "I'm getting too old for this."
I sincerely hope not. The site is well worth a visit.
www.littlecatgut.com/

No one is going to help you - Little Plastic Stars (Clinton Township, Michigan, USA)
From the album, Anthems for Riots. Little Plastic Stars is a one-man band with a lot of heart and soul in the words. "Music is my world and piano is my vessel."
Every Wednesday a new track/idea is posted! Has given up on MySpace for posting the new tracks and has now moved over to Podshow http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners where you can search for "little plastic stars". Other information on MySpace
I played "They don"t bring the noise" on SnC 114 Just got to fit another track in. Trouble is that with a new track every Wednesday, I'll never catch up!
www.myspace.com/littleplasticstars

A Big Dose of Ideas - Corrientes (New Yourk, USA)
From the Jamendo album This Warm Saturday. There I was wondering why I was running out of energy.
Corrientes is an original four piece band from NY. All Corrientes music is recorded, mixed, and produced by Ivette Torres in a home studio. Ivette is a Cuban-American, born in NY. Corrientes songs are in both English and Spanish. Check out the Corrientes' website for more info.
www.corrientesmusic.com
 

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A mix of artists new to Suffolk and Cool and some seasoned favourites. Back in the studio in Suffolk this week after a hugely enjoyable and productive 11 days in Mallorca. Including a few days (right) advising music sheep on the finer points of cowbell technique.
Test of concept for "digital nomadity" and it worked! Only had a couple fo half days off but, you know, it's really quite pleasant to be working in the shade of a lemon tree! Hit the weather just right though.
 
No control - Pepper (Hawaii, USA)
From their album "No Shame". The spirit of aloha is alive and well, and currently residing in sunny Southern California.
Meet Pepper; Bret Bollinger (Vocals/Bass), Kaleo Wassman (Vocals/Guitar), and Yesod Williams (Drums); the three young innovative minds from the Hawaiian Islands.
Pepper's summer tour has finally been announced! On this tailgate party, by popular demand Pepper will be joining Slightly Stoopid and will also serve up a treat for all by sharing the stage with dub masters, the legendary Sly& Robbie!! As a theme of this summer-time party, we are encouraging all our friends to make Tailgate 2008 the ultimate party experience! Loads of dates in Europe through to early next month then back to the west coast. Check the venues on their main site
www.pepperlive.com/
www.myspace.com/pepperlive
www.youtube.com/TheRealPepperLive


To be loved - Joan as Policewoman (New York, USA)
"Joan Wasser is the best champagne in the world. A voice so wonderous and moving that it makes everyone else's seem ordinary and mundane, the indie generation's Dusty Springfield. The Ride is the most hypnotic and majestic sad song ever and so good it will make you shiver." [Record Of The Week]
From her album "To Survive" Joan's time seems to be split between Europe and the USA with loads of live shows coming up. Tonight is last date in USA for a little while as she works her way through Europe:
14 May 2008      The Mercury Lounge, New York,
9 Jun 2008         Volksbuhne, Berlin
10 Jun 2008       Classic Grand, Glasgow,
11 Jun 2008       Glee Club, Birmingham
12 Jun 2008       Scala     London
13 Jun 2008       Concorde 2     Brighton
14 Jun 2008       The Music In My Head (main stage), Den Haag
15 Jun 2008       Melkweg (old hall),     Amsterdam
16 Jun 2008       Nouveau Casino, Paris
18 Jun 2008       Beursschouwburg     Bruxelles
20 Jun 2008       Sala Heineken, Madrid
23 Jun 2008       Tripod, Dublin
24 Jun 2008       Hard Rock Cafe, Warsaw
www.joanaspolicewoman.com/
www.myspace.com/joanaspolicewoman

Demolition Dub - Lion of Joppa Sound System (Edinburgh, Scotland)
All it says about LOJSS on the PMN is "Ali - all sounds and noises.â
There's a load more to the guy than that and he very promptly came to my rescue with an issue I was having with the ReggaeDubWise site.  A good egg, I'd say.
Lots of tracks on the PMN.
www.myspace.com/lionofjoppasoundsystem
you'll find a magnificent 14 tracks to play on his page at:
http://reggaedubwise.com/members/420/

Flowers for Mel - Lawn Jockey (Illinois and Oklahoma, USA)
Tom Henry and Scott Stokes. Taken from their 2000 album Jethro"s Revenge which Tom kindly sent over from The States. An album that really celebrates the acoustic guitar and the fabulous sounds it is capable of making. Some of the songs have vocals but the emphasis is always on the guitar and a few other stringed instruments.
The duo actually split after the album was released but have now reformed to collaborate on a new album. The new release will contain elements of Folk, Psycho-Bluegrass, and Celtic flavoured originals, and will be aptly titled Out By The Cement Pond.
Recording of the new release will occur in the coming months, and an internet release is slated for early 2009.
Find out more and hear more at:
www.lawnjockey.com
www.myspace.com/theeqforum

Manue - Bad Rriles (Cadiz, Spain)
Andres (guitar), Miguel (bass), Juan (drums) and Pepe (vocals)
The Codger played another Bad Rriles track, which I had been planning to play so this is just another for you listening pleasure.
You can download (for free) our new cd "PUNKANDROLL" at following link (direct download - rapidshare):
http://rs65.rapidshare.com/files/99586887/BAD_RRILES_-_PUNKANDROLL.rar
Individual tracks from their MySpace:
www.myspace.com/badrriles

Speaking of The Codge, I expect he'll be getting a few early nights in this week and ensuring a good night's sleep with a milky drink and taking out his hearing aids before bedtime. Why, 'cos it is The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this weekend and I gather that his care in the community worker The Grumbler is taking him out to a few of the early evening gigs.


Am I crazy? - Little Fish (Oxford, UK)
Gabor Kovacs is another of the podcasters loosely described as UK based. He played the next track on his Electrical Language show a couple of weeks ago and I was immediately captivated by the sheer audacity of combining vocal, a guitar and drums (no bass or keyboards), which I know both places more demands on each to make the sound complete and also means that each is very, very exposed because there's no majority momentum to hide behind.
Juju on Guitar & Vocals
Nez on Percussion & Vocals
Ju Ju comments of the sheer terror of playing in such a small band on their MySpace. If you want to check out the smell of fear - catch them at a small gig while you can - I have every intention of doing so as soon as possible.
14 May 2008     Oxford Punt - Thirst Lodge, Oxford
16 May 2008     Firegathering Festival - Main Stage, North of Horsham
17 May 2008     The Great Escape Festival... The Hope, Brighton
19 May 2008     The Dublin Castle - Headline, London
22 May 2008     Little Johnny Russells, Portsmouth
29 May 2008     The Carling-Academy, Oxford
31 May 2008     Play It By Ear @ The Monarch, London
04 Jun 2008       Pump Aid @ the Port Mahon (Juju solo), Oxford
15 Jun 2008       Isle Of White Festival! (Details TBC)
www.myspace.com/littlefishmusic

Small Answering Machine mix - Cassettes won't listen (New York, USA)
Another small excerpt from this much longer track. Cassettes Won't Listen is the brainchild of New York-based, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jason Drake and is the latest in a heap of musical monikers he has realized over the years.
Cassettes Won't Listen was initially just a bedroom affair; in 2004, he picked up the microphone for the first time in years and sang over a new track he had recently written. The result â future fan favorite and eventual single, "Cutting Balloons". He sent the track out to a few friends and never expected anything more. He soon saw the mp3 appearing on influential blogs. You can download a free EP "One alternative" from his site at:
www.cassetteswontlisten.com/
www.myspace.com/cassetteswontlisten

Sheep - Neal Fox (Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA)
An artist for whom I have huge respect. I played his track Swank-ay way back on Suffolk 'n' Cool 046 back in December 06 I have no idea why it had taken so long to fit another track in. But I was prompted by Neal being featured artist of the week at Ariel Publicity.
At age 20 Neal had his first record deal. Three contracts, one music production company and 40 years later he is still producing great music. Only now, he's doing it on his own terms and his own label. His sixth release Now it's personal is coming June 3.
Take a look at his myspace for loads of fascinating information and links to the guy's incredible range of creative work.
www.wireduck.com
www.myspace.com/nealfox

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Again from Port de Soller, Mallorca. I've moved the entire studio, well, the MacBook, to he other side of the building for SnC 116.
Expecting quite a difference, swifts instead of sparrows plus whatever goes on in the street below.

No Me Sigas - Freddy Nois (Barcelona, Spain)
Just a hundred miles or so off-shore is Spain and about the closest point is Barcelona.
XTN (acrÃnimo de Cristian) es un mÃsico y compositor residente en Barcelona. En los ochenta formà parte como guitarrista compositor y vocalista de grupos como VALIUM 10 , FRANCIS TERGAL Y LOS POLYESTER , TEDDY NOIS (Single Voy a atracar un Burguer / Nena, Nena Vis-Distrimusic   
http://pastisset.blogspot.com/

Challenger fleet arrived in the port last night and I was delighted to spot Scouser Pete, who was my watch leader on one of their big boats (The Stavros) a few years ago on a voyage from London Docks to Great Yarmouth it took 3 days and night continuous sailing but I lost count of how many times we crossed the North Sea. A highly recommended  and life-changing experience.
www.tallships.org/

Natan I Chara - Mediterra Musica (Hamburg, Germany)
An oud from Iraq, a violin from Morocco, drums from the mountains of Greece and Albania, a flamenco guitar, a jazz double bass, shepherd flutes from the Balkans, a trans-cultural saxophone, a neo-classical piano and - last but not least - prudently used electronics - they all accompany a voice of Greek-German origin. A flexible yet authentic voice that paints with all the tonal colours of the mediterranean: Greek or Turkish, Sephardic and Spanish or Italian, but also Portugese and Algerian and even from Cuban overseas, as the mediterranean went there and came back with music.
"Like A Nomad" Mediterra Musica wanders through the variety of music styles without excluding the media of modern today. In times of globalisation Mediterra Musica builds a musical bridge between orient and occident, between then and now. They use the mediterranean as a platform to bring themselves into oriental trance, Balkan euphoria or judeo-hispanic melancholy.
Not only with their culturally shaped personalities, but above all by their skills they create a very special universe of sound and music, a universe that knows no time or space, but only is one thing: Mediterra Musica.
Stella Tsianios - vocals
RamÃn Lazzaroni - flutes, vocals, electronics
Matthias Clasen - saxophones, flute
Oliver Baumgarten - piano, guitar
Ali Shibly - oud
Oliver Karstens - double bass, electronics
Ilias Oikonomou - percussion
www.mediterra-musica.com
www.myspace.com/mediterramusica

Riding the dune - Double six (Italy)
Already in the early 1990s, Andrea Soru & Luca Ascari were collaborating together on a musical project called "Seguira Coisa": an interesting and original mix of Samba, Latin, Reggae and Rock music.
Double six aims at making their music as interesting, fascinating and pleasant as drinking fresh water in the middle of the desert. They can sometimes deliver an unpredictable blow to the stomach but overall their tunes catapult all of your senses onto the alert mode so you really feel the music with your mind, body, ears and soul.
www.beatpick.com/double6

Get Free - Serpentone (Oregon, USA)
Band formed in 2004, with the longest standing members being Erika (vox/songwriting/guitar-playing/diva-bitch), Cyrus (original drummer, who has done fill-in work since 2005), and most recently, the adorable multitasking almost-sober chick-magnet bassist known as Skot. Somehow, these three managed to eke out time on Sundays during 2007 to record an album of sorts at Marty Vincelli's "Big House." Which is a house, that is big. Many amazing musicians have supported this band by filling the rhythm slots for live shows, including Carl Keil, Morgan Grace, Sam Henry, Tom Drama, Tim Flanary, Carl Keil, nolan void, and Susan Costa.
www.serpentone.com
www.myspace.com/serpentone

Stumbled upon music in the Placa Constitucio, Soller

La Balanguera - Barcelona and Soller

The Dub Zone cracking stuff Mr Cogle
http://thedubzone.blogsome.com/

Here we come - Screamin' Tubes (Marseille, France)
From their Jamendo album Do you reggae? Damn silly question really eh?
www.zoumail.com/screamintubes

Consuelo y Esteban - Nex2012 & DJ "H" (Rodez, France)
Amateur de salsa galactique, de piano sidÃral, de rythmes ensoleillÃs "on the rocks" comme disent les inuits, de percussions co(s)miques, de guitares hispaniques chauffÃes à blanc !
Cet album est pour vous!!!
Quittez vos fringues, vos combinaisons spatiales et enfilez un short, des moufles et des aprÃs ski!!!
Ãa va dÃchirer grave sur la banquise!!!
From the album Rhythm of the frozen sun yet again, on Jamendo. I told you it was a complicaed link although it translates easily enough into English as Secret Reality.
http://realitesecrete.chez-alice.fr

Au bout du rouleau - Les Amis de Safi (France)
From the sampler album Va voir lÃ-bas si j'y suis ! by Artistes d'Origine (in)ContrÃlÃe on Jamendo, of course.
www.myspace.com/aoc37

Bizmo Mix 01 - Steven Shepherd
From the Jamendo album Philistinism & Debauchery, which consists of just two quirky tracks. No links, no nuffin'. Of course it may just be a straight ad, and quite franky, I don't care; it's daft enough for me to play! Check Jamendo on www.jamendo.com

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Truly an outside broadcast for 115. The first of two "specials" from the studio on the terrace (right) here on the beautiful and breathtakingly rugged north coast of Mallorca.

Thango - Forza (Norway)
We mix stuff.. By mixing we mean mixing styles and influences. We do basically funk/jazz/hip hop/world beat - so there you go. It's all about music and not about  genres.. We love our audience more than they love us.. and they love us a lot!!
www.myspace.com/forzaonline

Theme
Happy - Jimmie Bratcher (Missourri, USA)
www.jimmiebratcher.com

So, just where are we? Well, not in a tango region that's for sure, nor even Flamenco.
Around 110 miles south east of Barcelona. Sitting under the lemon trees on my terrace at the back of my top floor apartment in what was until a few years ago a village based around a small port and navel base with a local fishing boats and a few rather faded hotels from when Mallorca was a cheap and cheerful holiday destination for sun-starved Brits.
Transformation is approaching completion the navel base is all but gone, the hotels are re-opening as bijou establishments. After being stood empty for a few years, Hotel EsplÃndido has had a 5 million euro refit and is living up to its name again.
Last week played "Nothing on" by Ruth Theodore and got some ribbing from the Codger about how long he's been playing her - the usual old tosh. Her album Worm Food has been on almost continuous cycle on my shuffle for the past fortnight so here's another quirky treat.

Ugly Faces - Ruth Theodore (London, UK)
A singer/songwriter like no other. With words as dangerous as her guitar playing, Ruth Theodore reminds us why songwriting is important in the first place. Refreshingly original and relentlessly imaginative. - River Rat Records
Debut album Worm Food. 13 tracks of beautifully twisted, political and personal mayhem. River Rat Records supports Creative Commons. If you like what you hear, please consider buying a CD. Our releases are packaged beautifully and manufactured using 100% recycled card. Â9.99
www.ruththeodore.com

CC Rider - Davis Coen (Charleston, S, Carolina, USA)
Blues circuit guitarist/singer Davis Coen's most recent accomplishments have included original music on the DVD release of Martin Scorsese's PBS special 'The Blues'; backup work on the last release by Jesse Mae Hemphill, entitled 'Dare You To Do It Again'.
Coen has been touring the U.S. since his teens, mostly as a solo acoustic guitar and vocal act, but currently joined by bass and drums performing as an electric trio. Davis commonly plays clubs, bars, theaters, and festivals throughout the Southeast.
www.daviscoen.com
www.myspace.com/daviscoen

Apologies for the link errors last week - I have been put right and so have the links!

Corazon - Corrientes (New York, USA)
Corrientes is an original four piece band from NY. All Corrientes music is recorded, mixed, and produced by Ivette Torres in a home studio. Ivette is a Cuban-American, born in NY. Corrientes songs are in both English and Spanish. Check out the Corrientes' website for more info.
www.corrientesmusic.com

Puerto Soller is backed by the Sirerra Tramuntana a range of very rugged mountains with the highest point on the island Puig Major at 4,500 feet only a mile or so from the coast - pretty steep.
The working port is very chic marina with excellent (and no-longer cheap) restaurants.
Not all pleasure though. Arrived Monday evening, shopping for basics yesterday morning, work in the afternoon and prepped the show in the evening ready to record this morning. Oh, OK, mostly pleasure then! Call me lucky but I'd say that "luck is the place where preparation meets opportunity." Smug git!

Cats and Rats - Jayme Gutierrez (JaÃn, Spain)
From the solidly excellent album Wompychew. You can hear five other tracks at his MySpace.
www.myspace.com/jaymegutierrez

Goodbye - Lena (Illinois, USA)
Lena is Russian girl with a bio from spy flicks (and you thought Cold War was over!). Her musical curiosity is stronger than her sense of propriety. That goes for other things, too. Her self defined music genres are "soft punk" and "mock pop". You ask for a label, you get one!  
Lena is a Russian pianist with a sweet speaking voice, a low and scary singing voice, and a bio taken out of Hollywood spy movies. Yes, she has even been to jail on allegations of espionage. For real.
Along with original material, she presents her inside-out, tongue-in-cheek versions of tunes by Dead Kennedys, Iggy Pop, Madonna and others.
Band members include Alan Lake (drums and percussion), John Griffin (guitars) and Scott Parrish (bass).
Alan Lake is a seasoned player who over the years has had the opportunity to play with many artists from many different fields. Among the more recognizable are: Madonna, Brian Ferry, Julian Lennon, Ministry, Brian Wilson and Sam Moore.
John Griffin and Scott Parrish are recent additions to the band, they are both seasoned and very well respected musicians.
Recently, the band started working with Ian McDonald, the founding member of King Crimson and Foreigner.
Lena's new digital release "My Little, Temporary Loves" came out on April 27. My thanks to the really good folks at Ariel Publicity for putting me onto Lena.
05/02/2008 8:00 PM       Looptopia, Chicago, IL
05/04/2008 8:00 PM       Knitting Factory Old Office, New York, NY,
www.lena.fm/

I'll be here for another week and a bit so I'll put a few more pictures up on my flickr stream at www.flickr.com/photos/clithers/

Down, down, down - The Expendables (California, USA)
Growing up in Santa Cruz California was a laid back experience for The Expendables: surf, skate, party and play music. Since 1997 The Expendables have staked their claim in the California surf rock genre. Blending Reggae, Punk Rock, and 80's style duelling guitar solos.
Geoff Weers (Guitars and Vocals), Adam Patterson (Drums and Vocals), Raul Bianchi (Lead Guitar) and Ryan DeMars (Bass).
5/2/08 San Diego, CA
5/3/2008 Pozo, CA
5/9/2008 Santa Cruz, CA
5/10/2008 Santa Cruz, CA
6/7/2008 Cincinnati, OH
6/8/2008 Louisville, KY
6/9/2008 Pittsburgh, PA
6/10/2008 Richmond, VA
www.theexpendables.net/

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Back into the saddle a little more this week, with some great music from around the planet: Luxembourg, Australia, New York, Michigan, London and Boston.

Intro
Happy - Jimmie Bratcher
www.jimmiebratcher.com

On with the show - Manny (Luxembourg)
Brand new album Sideshow from Manny arrived this morning, of which this is the first track. Recorded at Chez Manny by Luxembourg resident Scotsman Gordon Furguson aka Manny. That first track really appealed. Quietly understated as suits the song.
www.sideshowmanny.com

Sir, your fashion has the cold heart of a killer - The Beautiful Girls (Sydney, Australia)
"Music is a weird thing," says frontman and creative powerhouse Mat McHugh. "If you're doing it right, you're only trying to respect the spirit of it, but it seems that every step in making it is a compromise of ego and industry. Maybe you never actually get there."
I suppose we benefit from their trying.
They are currently on tour in the USA with The Virginia Coalition whose track Sing along I played on 109 (so that'll be about a month ago). Find their details at www.virginiacoalition.com/
Gig dates for current US tour at:
www.thebeautifulgirls.com/

Small answering machine mix - Cassettes Won't Listen (New York, USA)
Cassettes Won't Listen is the brainchild of New York-based, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jason Drake and is the latest in a heap of musical monikers he has realized over the years.
Cassettes Won't Listen was initially just a bedroom affair; in 2004, he picked up the microphone for the first time in years and sang over a new track he had recently written. The resultâfuture fan favorite and eventual single, "Cutting Balloons", He sent the track out to a few friends and never expected anything more. He soon saw the mp3 appearing on influential blogs. You can download a free EP "One alternative" from his site at:
www.cassetteswontlisten.com/
www.myspace.com/cassetteswontlisten

They don't bring the noise - Little Plastic Stars (Clinton Township, Michigan, USA)
From the album, Anthems for Riots. Little Plastic Stars is a one-man band with a lot of heart and soul in the words. "Music is my world and piano is my vessel."
Every Wednesday a new track/idea is posted! Has given up on MySpace for posting the new tracks and has now moved over to Podshow http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners where you can search for "little plastic stars". Other information on MySpace
www.myspace.com/littleplasticstars

Message in from Peter: Are you awroyt?
I grew up in Suffolk and am very fond of the place. I am listening to your latest podcast now and enjoying it very much. I manage my podcast subscriptions in Rythmbox, a linux mediaplayer and so don't want to use an aggregator like Juice or itunes. Could I suggest that you make your rss feed a little more prominent on your website?
I really like Triplexity. I got the flac download of the album. SaGreMa was helpful and charming. I'm going to seek him out in your archived podcasts. Have you given Ruth Theodore a listen? She's my biggest Jamendo find. Tom Waits style instrumentation, Tori Amos like voice but with a wit that Amos never showed. Cheeky folk punk with a city feeling. I was playing it last night in my taxi and it got a lot of response: very few albums do that.
I was sorry to read of your recent loss. You are in my prayers.
My regards, Peter, Danceswithcats

Nothing on - Ruth Theodore (London, UK)
From her 2007 Wormfood album (available from Jamendo.com)
A singer/songwriter like no other. With words as dangerous as her guitar playing, Ruth Theodore reminds us why songwriting is important in the first place. Refreshingly original and relentlessly imaginative. - River Rat Records
www.ruththeodore.com/

Thanks to Peter and the many others who very kindly been in touch. You know who you are and I am both touched and heartened by your concern. Thanks you so much.

cheesy link was sponsored by Grumbling Dragon Finest English Cheddar normally available from grumbling-dragon.blogspot.com)

Moving on - Threefifty duo (New York, USA)
Guitarists Brett Parnell and Geremy Schulick (both Yale School of Music graduates) decided to team up and take on the world of music with a fury. Fast fingers and a keen evolution between classical and rock playing make for a "wickedly talented" group.
http://threefiftyduo.com/
www.myspace.com/threefiftyduo

Sweet dough baker - The Racky Thomas Band (Massachusetts, USA)
The Racky Thomas Band formed in 1995 and has been performing throughout the northeast to enthusiastic audiences, steadily gaining a devoted following ever since. The band got a great boost in 1997 by winning Boston's prestigious Battle of the Blues Bands.
www.digiticedmusic.com/

I would like to thank Pete Cogle for his thoughts and music at the end of PC Podcast 213. We may disagree about the fate that awaits us at the end of this "mortal coil" but I the meantime Mel, Eve, Jessie and I want to say how much we appreciated your thoughts.  

High hopes to be able to produce a show in the wild next week - providing internet connection is OK. If not it'll be an enforced 2 week break!

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What a treat -  a new album Ouvrez les Persiennes from Deskaya posted on Jamendo just today.
J'ai peur - Deskaya (Feurs, France)
Quite a variety of styles and sounds on this six track album. Some quite restrained, others quirky some heading for traditional rock.
I suppose there is a risk in producing an album for everyone which no-one actually likes but all is performed well enough and with enough passion that  it is fine.
When I looked at the Jamendo stats it seems that only I had found it!
www.jamendo.com/en/album/22820
http://deskaya.new.fr/
www.myspace.com/deskayarockband

Happy - Jimmie Bratcher (Missouri,USA) the SnC theme
www.jimmiebratcher.com
Suffolk 'n' Cool as usual (but not as expected) from the barn here in the countryside of eastern England. A bit of an odd week and most likely an odd and rather short show.
Certainly a week the likes of which I'll never have again.

Butterfly - Katie Herzig (Nashville, USA)
OK, I hold my hands up to weakening sufficiently to play another Katie Herzig track - never mind, we're running out! This one is a bit more off the wall. It has a fabulous sound.
www.katieherzig.com/
www.myspace.com/katieherzig

La Tintinabulle - Les BoNoBoS (Toulouse, France)
I just love the way the track gradually seems to be heading off the rails then just pulls itself back in time.
Groupuscule festif fondà en 2003 à Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), Les BoNoBoS aiment le ska cuivrÃ, le reggae bien roots et le rock qui dÃpote. Nourri de ces influences, leur son est un cocktail festif et dÃtonnant. Un ska bien pulsÃ, à coup de cuivres et d'envolÃes cordÃes, alimentà par une belle Ãnergie saturÃe!
Another brand new release - just today from Jamendo.
www.jamendo.com/en/album/22826
www.myspace.com/lesbonobos31

What was odd about this week? If you"ve been listening for a while, you'll know that my mum has been suffering with Alzhiemer"s disease for quite a while and that her situation has been getting gradually worse. On Saturday lunchtime Pat Clitheroe, my mum died, mercifully peacefully.