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OK, so here’s some shameless(/ful) self-promotion. We Middle Ones have a 10” EP out on Where It’s At Is Where You Are, for five of your english pounds. You might be interested in purchasing it. That up there is the last track Young Explorer. So, there isn’t actually any mention of the EP on the wiaiwya website, and rough trade appear to have sold out/lost all knowledge of it, BUT it honestly does exist. I have some in my bedroom. In fact, email me if you’d like one. We will be having a Norwich launch for it really soon so keep your eyes trained to this page, friend. I’ll keep the info coming.

Also we’re hopefully supporting Rose Melberg of The Softies fame on her UK tour in March. So for anyone not Norwich/London based, there is light at the end of the lo-fi ramshackle pop tunnel.

You may remember our fine friends Characters from Books performing at Dragon Hall for us some time ago, you’ve no doubt been wondering what became of them. In between regular local gigs they’ve written and recorded a lovely album, and it’s available here, for a sum of your choice. Read about their idiosyncratic ways, and then revel in their ‘inadvertently cryptic’ lyrics. They assure me your money will be wisely spent, as they are saving up to send Rupert to Disneyworld.

You may remember our fine friends Characters from Books performing at Dragon Hall for us some time ago, you’ve no doubt been wondering what became of them. In between regular local gigs they’ve written and recorded a lovely album, and it’s available here, for a sum of your choice. Read about their idiosyncratic ways, and then revel in their ‘inadvertently cryptic’ lyrics. They assure me your money will be wisely spent, as they are saving up to send Rupert to Disneyworld.

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Our achingly-beautiful friends King and the Olive Fields are releasing their debut 10” EP Fireworks on the 22nd February 2010. They’ll be playing for us, here in Norwich, in March (details to follow when we curb our lax ways), but until then here’s a taster of things to come - the second track from the release - Postcards. The official launch is Friday February 12th at the Duke of Uke near Brick Lane, in big London. The EP is available for preorder on their myspace. Help a worthy brother out why don’t you?

Alto 45 is somewhat bashfully fronted by James Boyce (aka Lucky James Boyce), he writes the laconic/romantic/wistful lyrics. Imagine what you see above but played on an electric guitar with less harmonica, a crafty bass, masses of electronic wizardry and the most incredible drumming you’ll see for miles around. Unfortunately I couldn’t get hold of an alto track in time, so I thought it best to give you a taster this way. Last time I saw these three gents play in the crypt they turned it inside out, they blew our socks off, they are just fucking amazing. Come to the gig! This thursday (10th December), 8pm, Take Five Crypt, Norwich.

Schwervon: Hyper-confessional, intimate, fun, brash, loud, want to make you dance.

Major Matt Mason and Nan Turner started playing minimalist rock music together shortly after they began dating in 1999. A perfect platform from which to write about the strange and wonderful process of being in a relationship. Their most recent album ‘Low Blow’ is out now on Olive Juice records - the label Major Matt conceived and a gang of New york artists helped bring into reality:

“Olive Juice Music is a D.I.Y. label, studio, and mail-order distributor, based in New York City, interested in helping people who are in the developmental stages of trying to do something with their art connect with people who are in the developmental stages of appreciating it. OJM is not a traditional record label. For the most part it is a testament to what one guy, working out of his apartment, with a lot of help from his friends, can do.The artists associated with Olive Juice Music take an active part in how their art is produced, financed, and commodified. They in turn receive more of the direct profits gained from the distribution of that art, which is how it should be. The strength of OJM relies upon the active participation of its members to share resources and help promote a communal spirit among everyone involved as well as claiming responsibility for taking their art to wherever they would like it to go. Olive Juice Music is about independence and community.”

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Despite Ric Wade’s mathematically precise mind he still tempers his musical talent with a simplicity of intent. His songs are all such perfect standalone examples. His music’s humour never overpowers the atmosphere of warmth it creates, or the quiet look we get at his life and thoughts. Roxy from The Mountain Parade will also be joining him! And she’s a folk super star. So don’t miss it. The track up there is called Birds, one of my favourite songs of all time. Now there’s an accolade.

Karis Upton made me this fabulous poster.

Karis Upton made me this fabulous poster.

It’s happening! Look what they made! 10th December 2009, Take Five Norwich.

It’s happening! Look what they made! 10th December 2009, Take Five Norwich.

breaking news: Shwervon! in town

To all who revel in anti-folk/olive juice, this will be GOOD NEWS. The almighty Schwervon! are planning a UK tour in December and will be stopping off in Norwich to foster something good.

All the way from New York y’all. Keep your ears close to the ground: early december, probably in a crypt, hopefully supported by alto 45.

Thank you for coming and making Wednesday 29th July a lot more beautiful than it might have been. I am a very happy individual. Something Good is taking a little break now, until employment or another sensible path presents itself. But until then, pester if you want to play for us in the future, and just generally keep in touch. photo credit to Oliver Goulden

Thank you for coming and making Wednesday 29th July a lot more beautiful than it might have been. I am a very happy individual. Something Good is taking a little break now, until employment or another sensible path presents itself. But until then, pester if you want to play for us in the future, and just generally keep in touch.

photo credit to Oliver Goulden

It’s tonight! Four bands | Three pounds | Take Five crypt If you turn up at seven you will probably be too early, if you turn up at nine you will definitely be too late. I’ll leave that with you..

It’s tonight!

Four bands | Three pounds | Take Five crypt

If you turn up at seven you will probably be too early, if you turn up at nine you will definitely be too late. I’ll leave that with you..

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In the wake of their corker of an EP ‘The Sinking of the PRK’, these blossoming beauties - The Puncture Repair Kit - are coming to share their six-heads-are-better-than-twee sound with the people of Norwich. They have been described by The Line of Best Fit as ‘shambolic indiepop cardicore’ and Paul Heaton says they are ‘the best thing to come out of Cambridge since homosexuality’. Seemingly sweet melodies and ditties occasionally culminating in sweepingly aggressive endings. Listen to ‘Draws Lines’ up there, it’s fantastic.

I decided to post this video, rather than an audio track, as it is just great. Press play, it’s beautiful. Frànçois is one man who plays dreamy whispered pop, sometimes danceable, sometimes sleepy, sometimes twee, other times not so. Here is what Steve Brett (a far superior wordsmith) says about him:

“When Frànçois turned 20 he moved from his native France to Bristol, and quickly became part of the local music scene. His early solo work was dreamy lo-fi guitar pop, covered in drum machines, samplers and casiotone. He began to recruit local musicians into his performances to create his backing band, The Atlas Mountains Ensemble. With them he recorded two albums, The People to Forget (stitch-stitch) and Brother (Lejos Discos), both examples of near-perfection in DIY pop music. At the end of 2007 he suddenly disappeared from Bristol, resting and recording in France, before gradually making his way back to touring.
This tour celebrates the launch of his new 10”, Her River Raves Recollections, on stitch-stitch records and Spanish label Lejos Discos. His new album, entitled Plaine Inondable, will be released in September by Fence records.”

So come to Take Five on wednesday (yes, this wednesday!) and see him play.