Two exciting albums are out tomorrow

Monday the 31st is bringing two lovely albums with it.

Firstly,

The Owl Service - "The View From A Hill" (Rif Mountain)

Though not commercially, The Owl Service are creatively at the absolute forefront of the 'acid folk'/folk-rock revival. Taking their cues (to my ears) from folk's edgier heroes (Comus, Mr Fox, Trees) and the more traditional beauty of Topic Records legends like Martin Carthy - The Owl Service take and create, leaving us with very special folk music.

At this point they're practically a supergroup too, featuring Nancy Wallace (ex-Memory Band and BBC Folk Award Nominee), Dom Cooper (Straw Bear Band) and Jason Steel, all of whom have been releasing great records lately.

If you want a stamp of approval, their collaborations with Allison O'Donnell (Mellow Candle) ought to lend their wonderful music some credibility with the 'the old guard'.

Audio Antihero trivia: Benjamin Shaw supported The Owl Service at the first ever Witches Hat night at The Slaughtered Lamb. It was really good.

Secondly,

Meursault - "All Creatures Will Make Merry" (Song, By Toad)

I'm 3/4 Scottish (I'll explain if you really want) but my affection for Edinburgh's Meursault goes beyond mere patriotism.

As Drowned In Sound, The Skinny, God Is In The TV, Tasty, Mojo and all that lot will tell you, Meursault are a very exciting wee band. Blending very traditional sounding folk tales with crippling lo-fi and MASSIVE waves of noise and fuzz they simply rock the socks off anyone smart enough to be interested.

The album is certainly a slow burner, but every listen reveals something new. A simple scan of the myspace doesn't really do them justice. They're a band worth just taking a leap of faith on. It pays for itself.

Their first album made tidal waves with next to no distribution behind it, and their second outing will likely prove to be the beginning of a very fruitful journey. I hope so anyway.

Audio Antihero trivia: Song, By Toad's blog wrote a very nice review of Benjamin Shaw's "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" EP. Read it HERE.

SO, if any of your local record shops are open this Bank Holiday, I'd recommend taking £20 or so with you, and picking both of these up.

Never Say DIY,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Nosferatu D2 in Rough Trade

I saw something nice in Rough Trade East,

Those lovely dogs have put a few copies of the Nosferatu D2 album up on the counter for the convenience of you consuming geniuses. We thank them, and we thank you.

You can buy the album direct from them at: Rough Trade.com

Or direct from us at: Audio Antihero.com

We've also got our mega awesome t-shirts available now too:

Available now from the webshop

Also, Jon Hillcock played Nosferatu D2's "Broken Tamagotchi" on his New Noise show on NME Radio. Rock on Jon. Listen again HERE. He said "brace yourself".

Anyone who wants to discuss Nosferatu D2, can do so, at length on Drowned In Sound.com - please do.

Never Say DIY,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

P.S Everyone liking the free Benjamin Shaw stuff from last week?

P.P.S Me and Benjamin are going to see Dinosaur Jr tomorrow. I'll be wearing an Audio Antihero T-shirt, say hello!

Benjamin Shaw: Never Can Say Goodbye...

As eagle eyed reader's will be aware, we've been giving a week of free Benjamin Shaw songs. Yesterday was the last in those day, but we want to leave you with one more parting gift.

You can stream Benjamin Shaw's 'I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got' EP in full from HI54LOFI: HERE.

Buy it from our webshop

Also, our Benjamin Shaw t-shirts are also available now - also available from our webshop:

So, looking back on the free stuff this week:

#1 - Somewhere Over The M6

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-1-somewhere-over-m6.html

#2 - Sparrows Over Tottenham

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-2-sparrows-over-tottenham.html

#3 - But You Don't Drink Tea, Do You?

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-3-but-you-drink-tea-do_11.html

#4 - OOPS, Your Face Upon The Windscreen

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-4-oops-your-face-upon.html

#5 - Twisting Turning Killing Learning

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-5-twisting-turning.html

#6 - Internet Girlfriend ('90s Rock Edition)

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-6-internet-girlfriend-90s.html

#7 - Interview (Ten Minute Project Version)

http://onlineantihero.blogspot.com/2010/05/benjamin-shaw-7-interview.html

I hope you enjoy the songs as much I do.

Keep an eye on the blog, as I'll probably stick some more stuff up here periodically. It's the right thing to do.

Never Say DIY,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

P.S I have a cold...

Benjamin Shaw #7 - "Interview"

"And if God is seven..."

Here we have the final day of this wonderful week of free Benjamin Shaw songs. But we're ending it on a (miserable) high.

Here's our final free Benjamin Shaw song (for now) - Interview (and you can download it HERE).

"Interview" was recorded for The Ten Minute Project on Facebook. As the title might suggest, the artists are given ten minutes to write and record a piece and submit it to the site. Getting right to the root of an artists creativity, giving them no time to improve on or ruin a good idea.

The result is a painfully raw piece of lo-fi, that I absolutely love. Apparently it could be something he's re-working for the next album.

The song has the 'fear of London' and frailty of the "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" - but it has a different approach, one I cant wait to see fully fleshed out and explored on a new set of recordings. It makes me sad though.

Trivia Buffs: Benjamin Shaw actually did have an interview the next day.

That brings this lot to a close. You've had outtakes, stand out demos, tatty bedroom recordings, '90s rock remixes and a wee peak at the future. I hope you enjoyed them.

You can order Benjamin Shaw's "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" EP along with a brand new Benjamin Shaw t-shirt from our WEBSHOP for £11.99.

Keep up with Benjamin Shaw at the following hot spots:

Myspace

Facebook

BenjaminShaw.net

Although this is the end of the Benjamin Shaw-A-Tho, there'll be a little something else tomorrow. So, do check back.

Enjoy & Never Say DIY,

Jamie - Audio Antihero

www.audioantihero.com

Benjamin Shaw #6 - Internet Girlfriend ('90s Rock Edition)

What's more than five but less than seven? Six.

If you recall yesterday's Lemonhead influenced post, this one might tickle you. Something of an 'exclusive' too.

Today's free Benjamin Shaw song is "Internet Girlfriend" - but it's actually a bit of a two for one special.

Benjamin Shaw has put together a rocked up (in the '90s way) edition of this old favourite (originally on the 'There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" demo) - which you can download HERE.

The original "Internet Girlfriend" lives a life of free downloadability on Benjamin's website - HERE.

Have a look at Benjamin Shaw's website - www.benjaminshaw.net

Tomorrow is the end, and it's a little taste of the future...

Never Say DIY,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Benjamin Shaw #5 - Twisting Turning Killing Learning

Benjamin Shaw and the Furious Five! That's right! Here's the 5th installment of the Shaw-A-Thon. Five free songs in five explosive days.

Here's an old classic, Benjamin Shaw's 5th "Twisting Turning Killing Learning" which you can download HERE.

Back in August 2008, A Mr Nic Dalton of Lemonheads fame wrote about a 3 track Benjamin Shaw demo, naming it as his 'CD of the week'. "Twisting..." was featured, and Mr Dalton had this to say about the song:

"'Twisting turning killing learning' has the hushed tones you would be expecting but then he breaks out - in a loud voice! - and sings something about listening to a Dr Hook record. How cool is that? This song has a lovely and memorable melody and haunting piano and brushed drums." (full review HERE).

He would also quite kindly put Benjamin Shaw's "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" EP on his Half A Cow Records webshop - HERE.

I might leave it at that, a '90s rock star will ALWAYS be able to tell it better than a 23 year old from London. So there you have it, case closed.

Benjamin Shaw on Myspace, at your service - www.myspace.com/benjaminshaw

We're back tomorrow, continuing with The Lemonheads theme...

Thanks,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Benjamin Shaw #4 - OOPS, Your Face Upon the Windscreen

Here's part four (or the ending of a quadrilogy, if you believe sci-fi liars) of the Benjamin Shaw epic. Yes sir, a week of free songs!

Today's Benjamin Shaw song is "OOPS, Your Face Upon the Windscreen" which you can download from Benjamin's site - HERE.

Written in Melbourne and recorded in Tottenham in 2006 (go figure), this is a charmingly rough and raw recording, "OOPS" has a glorious groove and a stumbling swagger that's hard to dislike (not that we've tried). Certainly the song boasts a bit of a 'singer songwriter' style, a tag Benjamin worked hard to purge himself of on his "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" EP - but good songs are good songs, and this is a great look at where his sound evolved from.

A personal favourite for sure.

Over the next three days we're going to have some rarer and arguably even cooler stuff, so keep an eye on the site and the blog.

Thank you.

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Benjamin Shaw #3 - But You Don't Drink Tea, Do You?

Third verse, same as the first (not really).

Here be part 3 of the international sensation that is the Shaw-A-Thon.

Today's Benjamin Shaw song is "But You Don't Drink Tea, Do You?" which can be downloaded from the Audio Antihero media page - HERE.

It was a highlight from his lovely CDR demo "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet", but one that didn't quite get re-jigged for his debut proper, "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got".

Enjoy. There'll be more again tomorrow.

You can hear more from Benjamin on his Myspace - myspace.com/BenjaminShaw.

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Benjamin Shaw #2 - Sparrows Over Tottenham

Let me tell you somethin' brother, Shaw-A-Mania is runnin' wild!

So wild in fact, that we have another Benjamin Shaw song to give away: "Sparrows Over Tottenham" - a real gut grabber.

You can download it from our Media page - HERE.

In contrast to yesterday's lavish and layered "Somewhere Over the M6", Sparrows is a much more stripped and raw piece of musical rocket science. Though almost 'live' in sound, it shows some of the rudimentary experiments in sound and distortion that Shaw would perfect on his "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" EP.

You can hear more from Benjamin Shaw at his official site of sights - BenjaminShaw.net

Rock on,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

P.S I'm not very good at musical descriptions.

Benjamin Shaw #1 - Somewhere Over the M6

Over the next few days I'm going to link a Benjamin Shaw song that you may have missed, or that was never before available. Some tatty demos (in the good way), outtake stuff, previous 'exclusives' and maybe some early versions of future material. Nice, eh?

Kicking things off quite beautifully is "Somewhere Over the M6"; a dreamy, almost shoegaze piece of melancholy. This was made available as an exclusive to the lovely This Is Fake DIY - and you can still download it from them HERE.

If you like what you hear, I'd be much obliged if you'd consider ordering his EP, "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" from our web shop for £3.99.

Benjamin Shaw can also be seen on Myspace @ www.myspace.com/benjaminshaw

Check back soon for more.

Never Say DIY,

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

P.S This song will be available on CD to the first 50 people through the door at the debut See Sound gig night on May 18th. A song from Nosferatu D2 will also be featured, we get around.

Nosferatu D2 back in stock at Rough Trade

So, get your shopping skates on!

Direct from Rough Trade - HERE

Direct from Audio Antihero (us) - HERE

Nosferatu D2 Myspace - HERE

Rock on,

Jamie "CONSUME! CONSUME!" Volcano

P.S There's ONE copy of Benjamin Shaw's "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got" left in stock too. I'll hopefully be re-stocking that soon too.

Bruce Springsteen Urges Fans to Vote for the Danny Fund

Hey Hey,

I'm not a smart guy, so In no way am I suggesting that this is more important than any other organisation seeking funding, but it's certainly something to be aware of.

And frankly, it's never a bad idea to give The Boss 30 seconds of your time:



RIP Danny Federici

Benjamin Shaw covers "Hello Sunshine" by the Super Furry Animals...

Hey Gang,

I mentioned a couple of days ago that in tribute to Sweeping The Nation's five years of shaming their peers, a bunch of world famous musicians are covering some equally famous musicians, by way of a birthday present. One of the very pleasing results of this was, Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences covered Superman Revenge Squad - HERE. It's awesome.

But anyway, our man, Benjamin "Taming Dames and Taking Names" Shaw has given the final gift to the blogging superheroes with a cover of SFA's "Hello Sunshine". You can download it (and numerous other gifts) from:

http://sweepingthenation.blogspot.com/2010/05/birthday-presents-viii.html

Remember to say Happy Birthday!

If you're down with the Shawness, you can get his EP from the Audio Antihero Shop (and some real shops).