"I don't know what to do with myself" Autumn mix

Today is FREEZING! I've put together a little mix of heartwarming and heartbreaking songs that fit with the slightly wintery mood of the weather at the moment. Get a coat and scarf and find a pub with an open fire!

Emiliana Torrini - To Be Free

I love the lyrics in the chorus, they're pretty spot on. From her 'Love In The Time Of Science' album which I totally fell for all those years ago...
Emiliana Torrini myspace

Merz - Postcard From A Dark Star

Sadly the video doesn't really do the song justice, but it's one of my favourite EVER songs. Follows on nicely from Emiliana, and also quite fitting as it's getting dark very early these days... rubbish.
Buy Merz' album immediately

The Softlightes - Heart Made Of Sound

Wonderful, wonderful video by Kris Moyes for a really sweet track. Their album, brilliantly titled 'Say No! To Being Cool, Say Yes! To Being Happy' is nearly as good as its title.
The Softlightes myspace

Super Furry Animals - Run Away

The Super Furries' new single sounds *almost* like a Christmas single with the sleigh bells, which I guess is fitting as it might as well be December it's so cold. Also the video is hilarious, so it'll warm the cockles.
Super Furry Animals site

Brendan Benson - Cold Hands (Warm Heart)

Some great animations in this video. Remember gloves too.
Brendan Benson myspace (check out The Raconteurs' myspace from here too - or maybe not.)

Fun & Games...

Fun & Games

Student and teacher friends of mine are moaning about the return to school/uni now that September has kicked in, so I put together a mix of things reminiscent of childhood fun. The following videos make great use of toys, drawing, and generally anything detached from adult responsibility. Enjoy youth!

The Brunettes – Her Hairagami Set

My favourite new video!! Not only uses dolls and toys, but also presented like a Marvel cartoon strip. Brilliant. In every way.
The Brunettes myspace

The Go! Team – Panther Dash

Growing up as a child of the 80s, games like Pacman were pretty commonplace. This real-life re-enactment of Ms Pacman is brilliant. Set in the streets of New York. Where else.
(The Go! Team have just released their second album but stick with the first…. oops!)
The Go! Team myspace

Mum – They Made Frogs Smoke Til They Exploded

Great new track from Mum, with a beautifully animated, and slightly dark, video – kind of like a slightly twisted ‘Art Attack’.
Mum’s myspace

Tunng – It’s Because … We’ve Got Hair

Tunng are about to release their new album (I’ve heard a sneak preview – it’s GREAT) and this is a fantastic video for one of their earlier, also great tracks. Very kids’ TV, I love it.
Tunng’s myspace
Also, head here to check out the video to Tunng's new single 'Bullets', it's great! It's a Pitchfork exclusive at the moment though so can't embed it here :(

Rod Thomas – Your Love Is A Tease

Slightly egotistical I know, but this is a video my friend Matt Collett helped me make for one of my own songs using toys I found in my attic. After the feedback we got, I found out that pretty much everyone I know had that phone growing up…
Rod Thomas myspace

"Don't give up on your dreams, boy!"

So lots of my friends are making plans, making decisions and sorting out what they need to do to at the moment, so this mix tape is kind of centred around the future and its uncertainties… which is a good thing. If you knew what was going to happen then there’d be nothing to look forward to right?

I’m From Barcelona – The Painter (live)

Wonderful busked live version of my favourite I’m From Barcelona track, also where the blog’s title comes from.
I’m From Barcelona myspace

Noah & The Whale – 5 Years Time

Amazing live if you ever get to catch them. Very talented bunch of people. FYI “Laura” in the video is Laura Marling whose own solo stuff gets its own fair share of praise…
Noah & The Whale myspace
Laura Marling myspace

Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Out Of The Country

Time for a change? Great track from one of my favourite albums of the last year or so.
Camera Obscura myspace

Peter & The Wolf – Lightness

Not the Peter & The Wolf UK audiences might know, this one’s from Texas and slightly less jolly than the Liverpool based trio. The line “Every morning’s another chance to see a different me” caught my attention and I love the Leonard Cohen-esque vocals…
Peter & The Wolf myspace

Ace of Base – The Sign

“I’ve got a new life, you’d hardly recognise me I’m so glad”. Wise words from a band who – amazingly (!!) – sold 28 MILLION copies of their debut album. I’ll never tire of that fact. Sadly, I don’t think this video was ever cool though…
Ace of Base – read the story

"Your Once Eager Kiss" (Sue Hubbard)

Walking to get the Eurostar to Paris to visit my friend, I walked past Sue Hubbard’s poem on the wall that I’d totally forgotten how much I loved… when I first moved to London I saw this and loved the fact that it brightened up an otherwise dingy subway. This little mixtape comes based on its sentiment.

“I dream of a green garden
where the sun feathers my face
like your once eager kiss.”- Sue Hubbard, Eurydice

Sandie Shaw – Always Something There To Remind Me

The most perfect song with a total understanding of what happens at the end of a relationship. A friend once told me even as a young boy this made him cry almost every time.

Adem – Ringing In My Ear

I first heard this track back in September 2004 feeling a little sentimental after moving cities. A really beautiful song with nice live overdubs in the video.
Adem’s myspace

Merz – Verily

Merz’ 2005 album ‘Loveheart’ was a fantastic album and I only just discovered this video made for one of my favourite tracks from the record. A very sadly overlooked gem.
Merz myspace

Bjork – Unravel

Video shot for the backdrop of Bjork’s Greatest Hits tour, for one of her most gorgeous songs.
Bjork’s official site

Feist – Inside Or Out

Ok so I’ve already blogged Feist once, but this stripped down version of her Bee Gees cover is incredible. “What are we going to do if we lose that fire?”
Feist’s official site

French Connection

So I booked a last minute cheap Eurostar to Paris, and thinking about the city and the amazing times I've had there with friends and just wandering around, I've put together a little mix. Loosely centred around something French and/or Paris... here we go.

Camille – Ta Douleur

Camille has caused a stir both in and out of France with her album 'Le Fil' and this track shows her at her most catchy, and innovative using all sorts of vocal noises to make her beats.
Camille's official site

Yann Tiersen – Live aux Eurock, Rue de Cascades

Since penning the soundtrack to Amelie, Yann is pretty synonymous with French culture, his music instantly characterising Paris. Here he is improvising live showing just how talented he is.
Yann's official site

Malajube – Montréal -40° C

Coming from French Canada, Malajube have just started picking up a more international fanbase and this track (and video) are ace.
Malajube's myspace

Of Montreal – Suffer For Fashion

Ok, so Kevin Barnes ISN'T actually from Montreal. And he doesn't sing in French. But his brainchild Of Montreal are fantastic. Plus Fashion is an interal part of Paris culture so this video almost gets away with being included... [really? maybe]
Of Montreal's myspace

Air – Playground Love

One of France's most famous contemporary electronic exports excelled themselves with the Virgin Suicides soundtrack, and this video is just brilliant. Trivia: Gordon Tracks is in fact the pseudonym of Thomas Mars from Phoenix!
Air's myspace
Phoenix's myspace

Here comes the sun

In response to London FINALLY having a day of glorious sunshine, here's a mix celebrating the season that Britain so often misses. Although the second I post this it's going to rain, isn't it? [Yes.]

Husky Rescue - Summertime Cowboy

A band that slipped under the radar with their first album. This is its highlight and a good little video (bar the woman in the clouds. Skip those few seconds...)
Husky Rescue myspace

Hot Chip - Boy From School

Chips are usually hot. But feel even hotter in the summer. But at least school is always out!
Hot Chip myspace

The Sundays - Summertime

THAT VOICE...


St. Vincent - Paris Is Burning

If you've ever been to Paris in the middle of summer, you'll probably have thought the same thing. Incredible artist performs a track from her debut album.
St. Vincent myspace

Beirut - Postcards From Italy

For those lucky enough to have had a summer holiday...Beirut myspace

Emiliana Torrini - Summerbreeze

Gorgeous track from her 'Love In The Time Of Science' album, live at Queenscliff Music Festival, 2005
Emiliana Torrini myspace

Animal instinct

Animals are brilliant. Not only are do they make great pets but they also perform brilliantly in front of a camera, as this mixtape will demonstrate.

Loney, Dear - Saturday Waits

My favourite, favourite, favourite video.
Loney, Dear myspace

Bjork - Triumph Of A Heart

As a bit of trivia, Spike Jonze is actually the cat when it dances, then through the wonder of technology becomes a cat!
Bjork official website

Ed Harcourt - Apple Of My Eye

Actually one of my least favourite Ed Harcourt songs, but a good video (even though the cat's ugly as sin)
Ed Harcourt myspace

Fatboy Slim - The Joker

Again, the song is nothing to get excited about, but the video is just ace.

Aphex Twin - Donkey Rhubarb

Ok, ok, so they're not REAL bears, still great though.
Warp Records site

Good Dancing (?)

Like many people I like a good dance. These videos feature some of my favourite dancing. Whether it's "good" or not is totally irrelevant. Feist is my pick, by a long shot.

Feist - One Evening

Feist website

Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken

Camera Obscura myspace

Goldfrapp - Train

Goldfrapp's site

I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona
(Not strictly "dancing" but some nice synchronised movement à la School photo)

They're not, you know
I'm From Barcelona myspace

And obviously a total classic...
Daft Punk - Around The World

Field Day

Some of the highlights from this year's Field Day event in London's incredibly sunny Victoria Park

Gruff Rhys - Candylion


Four Tet - She Moves She


Chromeo - Needy Girl


Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do


BONUS: Despite the great music there was a LOT of this going on ...

Let's be more inventive!

A few nice reminders of how good music videos can be. If you're going to do something, might as well do a good job, right?

Fanfarlo - Ousiders

Fanfarlo myspace

The Schla La Las - 1234

Schla La Las' myspace

Eugene McGuinness - Monsters Under The Bed

Eugene McGuinness myspace

UNKLE - Eye For An Eye