One of my favourite Bluetones songs, a b-side to Solomon Bites The Worm in 1998
Hello 2013
A perfect year for a new album I feel......maybe old and new.....perfect because the sky will possibly be in the presence of two comets this year most notably this one COMET ISON
I was thinking about bringing some old songs back, ones that slipped under the radar or were never recorded how I would have liked originally. To think not of constraints.... to make an album of coherency but without limitations. A Pop/Jazz/Rockabilly/Folk/Psychedelia record hehe
Personal Legend maybe re-recorded.....The Garden made more far-out.....or the proper pop song of "Make Believe" that i did with producer Kip Eldridge that I never released in all its pop glory...but with a bunch of completely new material....what do you guys think.....is there any old songs you would like to see fully realised or ones that slipped the net? Message me please... that would be great with anything regarding old recordings or possible new ones. I'm just starting to get excited about a new project, i love working with people, new ideas, new producers/musicians to work with. If you want to sing on a track try your hand at mixing one or collaborate ..let me know....this is the exciting bit....the start of the new sound (Boosh fans be smug you know the joke and that).....
Happy New Year everyone......please carry on supporting me....Its really appreciated its a funny climate out there and I've been doing it a long time now so as a musician Im aware when a record is sold or a message is sent....Its very special to me :-) I would like to do a really nice box-set....but would anyone buy it in this musical climate????......what you reckon?
Currently booking gigs
Currently writing material
Currently watching Stewart Lee
Currently listening to Kassassin Street
UNPLUG THE JUKEBOX click here for a friend of mines review of the year.... "Memory Maze" is in it Thanks to him please support your local music blogs x
you know....before the Zombie Apocalypse on the 21st ;-)
Music of 2012:
The Milk: Tales from the Thames Delta
Soul, rock and roll, hip hop and a bit of working class aggression make this band my favorite new band of 2012. When I heard "All I wanted was the danger" i was hooked instantly and the first time i saw them live at the Isle Of Wight Festival this year was an incredible high energy show that was linked throughout. A real refreshing approach to the live experience. Working class lads with grace and style.
Moon Duo: Circles
Psycadealic noodlings from this years late entry to my list of influences and good fings! I first heard the track "I can see" on a late BBC6 broadcast on the radio round my girlfriends house. We were both spellbound by it so I Shazaam'd it and brought the album in the Brighton Lanes that weekend. Repetitive, spacey, drones made for late night listening.
Mansions on the Moon: Lightyears EP
A Spotify find by accident when i was going through an electronic music phase. Beautiful melodies with an overtone of meloncollie. A great EP and I cant wait to hear more from the band. Id love to do something like this one day.......
Charlene Soraia:
A gigging pal of mine and not a track from this year but "Daffodils" is a track i just cant stop listening to. Theres a purity in it and a beauty that cant be faked, its a genius song. When she sings "I think of how i could get used to this" it makes my heart melt every time. Shes barking mental but a musical genius.
Tame Impala: Lonerism
I am a massive fan of Psychedelic Pop, that's no secret as its in my artwork, some of my songs and outlook. So when this band finally broke through this year i was very happy!
Its the album I keep threatening to make but my ear for a concise melody and nice production pulls me away from it. This is essentially pop music produced in a mental fashion! Bloody good though!!
Richard Hawley: Standing at the sky's edge
Ive always adored Richard Hawley right from the beginning all those years ago. So when he decided to go all Psychedelic with textures, kaleidoscopic sonics, distortion, solos and drones I was like a pig in shit! Its a masterpiece from start to finish and one of the best records i've heard in many years. A mood record though, one for the late nights and deep conversations.
Hot Chip: In Our Heads
I heard Motion Sickness on the radio i forget when and where but musically its so well put together. The samples and the melodies intertwine and mesh in a mesmerizing way. The album is great, the sonic's are intelligent and the melodies are pure sugar pop. I fell in love with it.
Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto
Yes the music fans that still read the NME and the thousands of fanboys who now have grown a moustache and wear tweed cos "Mumford once wore em innit" hate them. For me and the millions of everyday people that want to be entertained and see something spectacular, this album dominated this year. It's massive grand technicolor optimism colored my the last 14 months, inspired the song "Heartbeats" and made me smile. I love it and I know amongst the people I know I'll be alone on that one. I went to see them live this year and it was the most breathtaking gig I've ever been to.
Kassassin Street: Moloko Vellocet EP
Im going to keep on about them until they make proper money from it......its genius. There also good friends too. Listen to the whole thing here, then listen to my cover on my website www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk
The Infinite Monkey Cage: Brian Cox, Robin Ince
Science Podcast that has been in my brain all year. Its taught me a lot about science through an approachable medium with added comedy thrown in. Its like a hug for me now, i often listen to it even though i know it word for word.
Desert Island Discs:
Same thing.... a comfort blanket..... im fascinated with the way people spend their time and the journey they make which is why Desert Island Discs is so fascinating to me. I adore it....heres an extra special episode with Morrisey. I can identify with a lot of what hes saying in this....
Ova Fings!!!
Stewert Lee (Comedian)
Shappi Khorsandi (Comedian)
Batman Dark Knight Rises
Apple Products :-)
Dr Who
Tea
I do hope you have a fantastic Xmas....dont miss Dr Who you know you will watch it at least at xmas even if not all year ;-) and dont argue on the day please.....just one day of nice'ness aye!
"Nothing no man has produced, can match families bound at the roots, poetry in the mis-understood"
Stay Safe
Andy
21st........dont die.....cos that would just be ironic as its not going to be the end of the world.....
Ello! Cold isnt it! The earth is in a different place so its not so hot....Brian Cox told me....
First up thanks to everyone who came to the recent Wedgewood Rooms shows.... the Martin Rossiter show was fantastic and the best show ive done in a while, also the Jack Savoretti/Karima night was a cracker. Its always a pleasure playing The Wedgewood Rooms and I think all at the wedge for their professionalism and hospitality.
I got approached by an author named Michael Linford at the Martin Rossiter gig and this is what he said in the email to me the next day:.....
Hi
I have just finished writing my debut novel which had the working title of Twenty Twelve and is now called 'Music for the end of the world' and it will be available to buy on the 20th December 2012.
The whole book is musical themed, set in London and involves having the time to listen to 20 songs before the worlds ends. With this in mind, I am currently contacting musicians and other interesting people to see if they would be prepared to send me their own personal list of the 20 songs that they would choose.
I have lists from various musicians so far, including
Kristin Hersh
Dubstar The Wombats Nerina Pallot Kate Miller-Heidke Rumer Dodgy Echobelly I also have a 1 list from a dj, Shaun Keaveny at BBC Radio 6 music
I think its a fantastic idea and its a pleasure to be involved
Soooooo...here is my list.....
I tried to think of what I couldn't stand not to hear again before doomsday... through memories involved, moments of my life these songs encapsulate, and the sounds that I love.....
1. Am I Wry? No - Mew
2. In It For the Money - Supergrass
3. In The Meantime - Spacehog
4. Lets Dance - David Bowie
5. Daffodils - Charlene Soraia
6. Spooky - Classics IV
7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite - The Beatles
8. Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
9. Neon - Amplifier
10. Stars - Dubstars
11. Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode
12. Voodoo People - The Prodigy
13. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall - Coldplay
14. London Symphony Orchestra - Ravels Bolaero (full 15min version)
15. Riverman - Nick Drake
16. Brothers In Arms (On The Night Live version) - Dire Straights
17. BBC Symphonic - Doctor Who Theme
18. When I Fall In Love - Nat King Cole
19. D'Ya Know What I Mean - Oasis
20. Cortez The Killer - Neil Young
What would your list be....please send me them I'd be intrigued!.
I have a gig with good friendsHEAD FULL OF YOKO at the cellars in Eastney this Sunday 9th December. Tickets are £5 from me...please message me for them. Also on the bill is good friend Chris Perrin from Race Car Hearts. Hes always fascinating to watch too....dont miss it
A full 2012 list run down blog will be here next week......like High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.....I love a good list ;-)
Stay Safe....and buy that guitar/pair of shoes/big marrow..........cos its the end of the world ;-)
Thanks again to everyone that came to the Wedgewood Rooms show with Jack Savoretti and Karima Francis. It seemed to go down well and the new material especially :-) which is always good.
Karima really liked "Heartbeats" which was sweet as we've played with each other a few times and I respect her as a musician.
Please check the website for gig updates and more info....more are going up soon.....
Nov 14th The Square Brewery,Petersfield,
Nov 21th The Fishbowl,Brighton,
Dec 9th Head Full Of Yoko, Eastney Cellars, Portsmouth
Dec 29th Mark Morris (The Bluetones) Eastney Cellars,Portsmouth,
Thought I'd bring to your attention this new magazine that's going to be out in Portsmouth from January. It needs the musicians, DJ's and fans to engage now for content as it wants to be shaped your yourselves.
sendit@extendedplaymag.co.uk
I'll be contributing features and things to it and it will be nice to engage with something for Portsmouth music. For example one of the first features ill be doing is Alternate tunings. Contact them if you want to contribute, it will all help and it would be a cool thing to have a little monthly mag dedicated purely to the music that comes from Portsmouth. There wont be politics involved or favouritism it has no motivation only other to document Portsmouth music and will be funded by ads in its pages...so its relying on you to contact them so get on it and be in it! :-) whatever genre.
now .....to buy a kaossilator 2 or not....what you guys reckon?..... I could even use it live couldn't I.... for drones and beats....hmmmmmm.....advice! hit me!
I have the pleasure of supporting Jack Savoretti on his Portsmouth tour date with Karima Francis and myself Tuesday 30th October 2012: The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Tickets are available through me at £9, please message me at andrewfostermusic@googlemail.com Ive supported Karima before and those who know already shes a fascinating performer, Its going to be a strong line-up. Physical copies of the EP will be available on the night.
and please visit the website for more info on the new EP and up-coming gigs and interviews
