Quarterly Report

Squid imports into Japan were slightly up in 2006, when compared to last year. This was mainly due to higher imports from South America. Total imports during the last year should thus have reached 67 000 tonnes, the highest level in recent history. Prices in the Japanese market went down somewhat during 2006, reflecting higher availability. Coldstorage holdings of squid were faintly higher in 2006 than in 2005, but overall the squid market in Japan looks very mature. (FISH INFOnetwork, "Market Report on Squid," Jan 07)

This week Contrast Podcast offers contributors the chance to share with us their top tunes of 2007 to date. Think of it as a first quarter report to you, the shareholders, of Music plc. Quite what that has to do with the price of squid in Japan I'm not quite sure, but I'm sure one could find some sort of correlation between cephalopod supply and music quality, if one were so inclined. But speaking of quality, I must let you know that Dearest Young Tim's intro is quite superb...

So, to hear one collective view on what's the best 2007 has on offer so far, click here for a direct download, or else paste in theis handy RSS feed and let your PC do the rest: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ContrastPodcast

And onto the report:

(00:00) Great Northern - The middle
Tim from The face of today
(apologies for the intro to Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip)
(04:24) Love of Diagrams - Pace or the patience
Bob from Gimme Tinnitus
(07:55) CéU - O ronco da cuica
The Duke of Straw from The Late Greats
(11:52) The Harvey Girls - Lazlo, buddy
Melissa from The Harvey Girls
(buy their new EP from SVC - all proceeds to RAINN)
(18:21) The Persuasions - Dry bones
John from You must be from away
(21:05) Chocolat - Magalie
FiL from Pogoagogo
(24:48) Psy’Aviah - Demons in mind
SAS Radio
(31:29) Tokyo Police Club - Box
Lyle from Mentok the mind-taker
(35:11) The Hours - Icarus
Dragonhead
(38:52) Laura Veirs - Pink light
Natalie from Mini-Obs
(43:27) Piskie Sits - Big fat mouth
Ross from Just gimme indie rock
(47:03) The Prairie Cartel - Fuck yeah that wide
Chip from Atomic Ned
(52:24) Tracy Thorn - By Piccadilly station I sat down and wept
Crash from Pretending life is like a song
(55:04) Ola Podrida - Instead
Marcy from Lost in your inbox

I'm especially keen to hear what the CP family has to offer, as I've been a bit of a slacker when it comes to new music this year. It's just that I enjoy digesting what I find at my leisure, rather than just gobbling up every new dish, no matter how tasty, as soon as it pops out of the kitchen. But as a result, I do get a bit behind on what's on the current menu, and sometimes I miss delectable morsels. Sigh, must try harder...

All that said, let me skip straight to dessert. Top of my list for 2007 to date is definitely the Chocolat EP whence came my submission for the podcast. There's a whole lotta francophone shakin' going on in Montreal, and I'm determined to find out more. Chocolat is fronted by one Jimi Hunt, a lo-fi garage type wot I found whilst I was busy impersonating 17-year-old Christina Aguilera fan. Here, dip into the choccie box and have another taste:

Chocolat - Gabrielle (buy via their Myspace page)

I've also come across a song that I'm not sure whether to include on the "Best of" or "Most Maddening of" list. You see, upon first hearing "Atlas" by The Battles, the pesky choonlet wormed itself down my earhole and into my cerebral cortex, where it has sat since. So far I'm enjoying playing host to this musical parasite, but I'm afraid it might eventually drive me mad...

Battles - Atlas (preorder the album here)

Next week's CP theme is "Songs that Mention Other Songs, Bands, or Artists." So get thinking and submitting - Tim describes all the mechanics right here.

EDIT THURSDAY 3 MAY: Anyone interested in popping along to see The Paper Dolls (featuring ex-Buffet/Stuck-Up Tiffany Lee), The Manipulators, and The Zip Guns this Saturday, 5 May @ Pub 340? It promises to be a fun evening of fuzzy garage rawkous roll, but I've no-one to go with and I don't want to be the creepy old guy propping up the bar...