assistant blog podcast info

Here's a slightly expanded version of the tracklisting for my first podcast; hope this is useful to anyone who enjoyed the show.

Assistant Blog Radio - Podcast One (right click to download)

1. The Fall - Theme from Sparta FC 2. On the podcast I call this the third or fourth iteration of this song. I think it's the third. The other versions are available on the excellent 'The Real New Fall LP/Country On The Click' and on the new Peel Sessions Box Set. The latter sounds like a work in progress, the former a slower, keyboard-led take. The one I play, (which you can(buy here), they re-recorded for single release and did a faster, heavier take. I think this is the best one.
2. Ghostface - My Guitar. This won't ever see the light of day, because like Ghostface's mixtape tracks, he's rapping over something he's not got permission to use. In this case, it's a version of The Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. In the show I mention a fascinating article about Ghostface and the use of sampled material in mixtape tracks. You can read it here.
3. New Order - Waiting for the Siren's Call. From the most recent New Order album, this has to rank as one of their best tracks since the Technique era. Quite why they've picked the fairly grim 'Jetstream' as their new single is beyond me (and Ben, too). You can buy the New Order album here, if you like.
4. Assistant - What It Means. This is actually an exclusive, of sorts, in that the take of this song which we put up on our website and distributed was a different mix, which had double tracked vocals and a quieter middle eight. I think this is a slightly better mix, and hope it fits in OK.
5. AFX - Where's your Girlfriend? This is from the recent series of Analord 12"s/mini-albums which are the enterprising Richard D. James's latest cash-cow; I think it's 11 releases planned this year - all old-school acid workouts rather than the blisteringly modern stuff we're used to. His version of Luke Vibert's wonderful 'Yoseph' LP, basically. I think he even nicked the Analord monicker from an old Vibert record, come to think of it. Until Rephlex update their site, you can see 10 of the releases on their frontpage, here. And you can pick up a copy of Analord 01, from which this track comes, here.
6. Section 25 - Looking From a Hilltop. This is from Section 25's 1983 album, 'From The Hip', which you can buy here. Section 25 started out as more of a guitar band, so if you prefer Joy Division to New Order, you might want to start here, instead - 'Always Now', from 1981, is a darker proposition. There's tons of information on the band here - I've not read it yet.
7. New Fast Automatic Daffodils - Fishes Eyes. The New FADS are not, I suspect, remembered that fondly by that many. When I was a teenager and first getting into indie music, I regarded them as also rans, like Northside, Flowered Up, the Paris Angels and the Bridewell Taxis. I remember reading the odd article where they were presented as a bit arty and difficult, but never took the time to listen properly. Their name somehow persuaded me they sounded like Neds Atomic Dustbin or the Inspiral Carpets or one of those stupid-named bands of the time. In fact, they were much better than that, as I discovered when I dug out a couple of old, neglected compilations on which they featured. Further digging has unearthed their first two albums, 'Pigeonhole' and 'Body Exit Mind'. The track on the podcast is on the former, and demonstrates an expressive, funky, slightly caustic energy, as if The Fall played white-funk. Excellent stuff. The albums are unavailable now, but should be easy enough to find. Or ask me to make you a copy, if you like.
8. The Wedding Present - I'm from Further North Than You. Not much I need to say about The Weddoes, surely. If you don't have 'Bizarro', get it. If you don't have 'Seamonsters', get it quickly; if you're feeling in any way lovelorn, then leave the house immediately and get thee to a record shop. Only David Gedge sings lyrics like "And there was one particular glance / that made me afraid / that you were just using me as a chance / of getting laid". Plenty more fabulous lyrics on the Take Fountain LP, which houses this song.
9. Pavement - Fight This Generation. It's Pavement. It ambles hesitantly along, muttering "god damn the guts and the gore" before unleashing one of a hundred perfect Pavement moments; those chords coming in at the song's close and Malkmus's gloriously casual chant. No other band could make a call to arms like 'Fight this generation' sound so half-hearted. This track is from 'Wowee Zowee. The problem with playing this song at the end of the first podcast is that I don't think I'll be able to come across as good a lead-out track again...

Ah well.


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