Monday, April 07, 2008

Swap Meet


Two small FiLs, one large Dirk

Dearest Friends, I have been sorely delinquent in keeping you apprised of goings on in Contrast Podcast land. Now I know that I don't really need to keep you informed, since obviously you all have such exquisite taste that I'm sure you tune in each week as a matter of course. But still, I feel a sense of responsibility...

Dearest Tim, the CP Godfather, is off on holiday in New Zealand, where he's no doubt enjoying sheep pestering and kiwi stroking. But thanks to the magic of technology and his whacking big heart, he made sure we'd get our weekly fix of Contrast goodness.

So, what have I missed telling you about? Well, two weeks ago we had another fine episode of musicians introducing their own songs, which you can download here. Then last week and this week it's the Contrast Podcast CD Swap! Yes, so many CPers wanted to take part that they could not be contained in one lone podcast. By way of explanation, each participant had to lovingly compile a CD for another participant, then choose one track from the disc he/she received to submit for the episode. Pop on over here to hear part one, and over here for part two, and make sure you stop by here to see the wonderful photos the contributors supplied as icing on this scrummy cake.

I was a very lucky FiL, for I got my CD from tastemeister extraordinaire Dirk of Sexyloser. Thanks Dirk!! I say lucky, but I was also cursed, for it was extremely difficult to pick just one track from all the delicious ones on offer. In the end I went for "Girl About Town" by Helen Love. What swung me? Well, first I was taken by its compelling disco-punk franticness. Second, it namechecks Joey Ramone. Third, the title and refrain plays on the excellent "Boy About Town" by the mighty Jam. Finally, every time it played out on the car stereo Little Man would exclaim "Again!"

But of course there were other contenders:

Leyton Buzzards
- Saturday Night Beneath The Plastic Palm Trees (buy here)
Anthemic pop-punk-pub-rock with a slinky ska undercurrent from East London circa 1979. Sadly it was all downhill after that, but we don't need to talk about that here.

Abbreviated Ceiling - Partyline (gosh, try eBay)
Hailing from the increasingly hardcore Washington DC punk scene, back in 1980 these lads purveyed a sparse, spiky sound that was urgent, but not as pummeling as their cohorts. The band was originally called Absolute Ceiling, but a promoter misheard the name and the mistake stuck. I had heard of AC, but had not heard anything by them until now. Thanks again, Dirk!

Die Sterne - Universal Tellerwäscher (buy here)
One of (and arguably the most successful of) the disparate group of German bands from the so-called Hamburg School (Hamburger Schule) of the late 80s - early 90s. Though varying in style --this track is a wonderfully catchy bit of noodling guitar pop-- they all sang in German (shock, horror!) and offered up arch social commentary of one sort or another. My exposure to this brand of Teutonic indie had heretofore been limited to the excellent Lassie Singers, so I was thrilled to dig a bit deeper. Thanks yet again, Dirk!!

And as an extra-special treat, here's a video of Die Sterne in action. Note frontman Frank Spilker's bohemian locks, artistically scruffy clothes, and, er, poor dentition. Watch out also for the most excellent shuffling old guy...



Next week's theme is Snap, which sees contributors offer up different songs with the same titles. It was suggested by Eiron, a marvellously curious young man with a delightfully askew world view (or Weltanschauung, as they'd say in Germany). Pay him a visit over here.

15 comments:

Dirk said...

Dearest FiL,

what a nice post! And I'm happy to hear that my CD delighted you so much! By the way: if you're interested in The Hamburg School, try to track down something by Tocotronic. Die Sterne are good, but Tocotronic are even better, I would think. If you want, I would be pleased to make up a compilation CD for you (yeeeees: plus one of Brilliant Corners stuff *smile*) and send it to you ...

Cheers,

Dirk from Sexyloser

davyh said...

Ah, big thank yous FiL/Dirk for the Leyton Buzzards - I've been trying to get hold of that for ages. Very Smash Hits circa 1979.

dickvandyke said...

Hear hear. The Buzzards seems to end half way through though?
Well before they get dancing to the Guns Of Navarone.

Eiron Page said...

Eiron is, indeed, a curious beast. Presently he is casting his unheimlich Weltanschauung over his music collection on The S+7 method blog, where pogo a go-go can be found in the BlogRoll.

Plugging myself shamelessly, I know. But I feel I deserve the teensiest bit of recognition. I am presently going to see whether James responded to my inquiries re the CD I sent his way. As affirmed in the podcast, all the songs had "Chicken" in the title.

Eiron Page said...

Aaaand, I just looked where the last link pointed and am all embarrassed. You are too kind, sir.

Eiron Page said...

Finally, that Great Bear poster is awesome. I can't remember, but I think I have one lying about someplace. I love how I concentrate on my things.

FiL said...

Oh dear! Indeed, the Buzzards track seems to have lost something in the rip. Fear not, I'll tidy it up and repost this afternoon after work. Check back around 1AM your time... ;) Sorry for that, Messrs. Davy & Dick!!

And Dearest Dirk, how could I refuse a Hamburgische Kompaktplatte ?? Yes please... :)

Dearest Eiron, no need to apologize. You do deserve recognition. I'll update my blogroll itself in due course - I'm a bit of a lazy git when it comes to maintaining blog architecture. And The Great Bear poster is one of our favourite pieces. When living in London for a while I used to make a daily journey from David Niven to Tony Curtis. Then life got complicated and the journey became Max Wall to Tony Curtis, switching at Epicurus. But only when British Rail fell over.

FiL said...

Righty-ho, link is now fixed and all Buzzards and Palm Trees are present and accounted for. Let's go discover heaven on the Seven Sisters Road...

dickvandyke said...

Aah that's better.
Oh the memories dear FIL.
I was cool drinking rum and black back then.

Also check out The Piranhas (of 'Tom Hark' fame) from circa 1980. Similar feel and theme esp: 'Getting Beaten Up (Is Part Of Growing Up) and 'No thanks, I'm Waiting For My Boyfriend'.

Very many thanks ... you only gorn and made my day!

Dirk said...

Dear FiL,

kindly drop me your postal adress again, please: I think on the weekend I'll find the time to compile some Hamburger Schule - stuff for you ....

Cheers,

Dirk

Anonymous said...

ich bin immer jüngen, ich muß immer essen.

is that what he says? which after eating all that sushi just now makes sense.

i am going to get some pepto-bismal

Dirk said...

... actually, juan, it's: 'Ich hab'immer Hunger, ich muss immer essen' ... which translates as 'I'm always hungry, I always have to eat'.

Cheers,

Dirk

Anonymous said...

The most wanted mugshot board has really gone downhill lately

China said...

Helen Love is great! What a good choice.

Funny thing, I initially thought you'd mixed up the title and band name of Abbreviated Ceiling's "Partyline." Have you heard of the Washington D.C. band named Partyline?

http://www.myspace.com/partylinegirlswithglasses

On a side note, Davy H's avatar is rather handsome.

Anonymous said...

i can see my 6 years of german in high school college has served me well

:)