ONLINE ANTIHERO

LOOK AT ME, I OWN RECORDS! #13 - Benjamin Shaw

2012-02-12T17:02:00.013Z

Audio Antihero's goldenboy Benjamin Shaw has stepped up to offer his 'Look At Me, I Own Records!' spectacular. His instability is perhaps apparent from his writings but his choice of records is very quaint. Lucky number 13, no less.

Benjamin Shaw's debut LP "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" is out now:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/theres-always-hope-theres-always-cabernet"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet by Benjamin Shaw&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

First album.

Very early on, I was deep into Michael Jackson, but the first music I bought with my own money was a Motorhead 'best of' on tape from Woolworths. A departure, really. I was 11 or 12 and despite liking the skull with tusks emblem, I didn't quite get it, and lapsed straight into a Bon Jovi binge that lasted longer than I like to admit. I don't have any photos, as most of the records from the first 20 years of my life are in boxes under my brother's bed. A special place reserved for Bon Jovi. I always wanted to be Tico.

Best concept album.

An obvious choice I know, but I am with Alan Partridge on this one. I first heard ELO when I was illegally downloading badly tagged mp3s from Napster of the old days, and Mr Blue Sky was included in an otherwise forgettable Oasis album. My wife and I played that song a lot while we were courting, and we eventually had it played at our wedding. Still gives me a wee tingle now.

Coolest sleeve..

It's pretty good isn't it. My favourite Elton John record probably. As someone who grew up only knowing the funny round man in a wig singing about bastard lions or careless drivers, it was nice to discover that he was actually quite something in his day. Lovely gatefold sleeve with a little cornflakes box type flap too.

Most homemade...

This christmas compilation came free with a CD I bought from 442 Records, a label from Sydney, Australia. The CD I actually bought was the first EP by Lessons in Time, a wonderful wee thing full of odd samples and tiny melodies. Both CD sleeves are stitched with thread and then coloured in with crayons, I guess making them one of a kind. I lent the Lessons in Time CD to Jamie of Audio Antihero once and he lost it. I think he thinks I've forgotten about it. I still have this Xmas compilation that came with it though, I suppose.

Best band name

It's obviously no Wartgore Hellsnicker, but I think it's clear where Wartgore got their inspiration. Party band? Check. Numerous revolving members? Check. Ludicrous name? Why, check. As the point of these blogs is to show off, I should say that I bought this in Gothenburg, Sweden. I have been abroad.

The best album ever.

Kapow.

A nice memory.

Back when I was young, optomistic, in love and in Australia, I worked on a carousel in a zoo. Probably the nicest time in my life. There was a selection of CDs we could play on the ride, and there was a Country compilation I would always gravitate to. Featured on it was Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue, by Crystal Gayle. Fittingly now, the piano intro does indeed turn my eyes blue.

Thanks Benjamin, you're mega!

Follow Benjamin Shaw on:

Twitter

If you would like to contribute one of these yourself then get in touch.

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

AAH! Real Monsters: Kathleen Elise

2012-02-06T18:42:00.002Z

If the throwing of rotten fruit ceases for long enough, this might become a regular post, so get in touch if you want to contribute.

The first part comes from my very own loco en yanko girlfriend as she attempts to determine her five favourite Audio Antihero recordings (whatever happened to 'seen and not heard', eh?). We met through this stupid label of mine, so I suppose it's only fair.

Regardless, like a gentleman, I present you with...

KATHLEEN ELISE's Top 5 Audio Antihero Songs

Mr & Mrs Audio Antihero: Not an open relationship.

Top 5 Audio Antihero Songs

Because he sometimes makes bad decisions, Audio Antihero bossman and king Jamie agreed to give me free rein to write an article on my Top 5 Audio Antihero Songs.

1. Nosferatu D2 – 2 People, 0 Superpowers

It is incredibly hard to pick only one song on the masterpiece that is

Nosferatu D2’s debut. There are a few reasons why this album is incredibly important to me: thanks to a blog post penned by Gareth of Los Campesinos! in 2009, it indirectly introduced me to Jamie, it led me to discovering the other AAH artists I now love and it taught me that Burt Bacharach is actually not an actor, but some sort of musician or something, I guess. I chose this song over the others largely because it includes some of my favorite lyrics: ‘…so let’s sit down, talk about it, that’s enough. Let’s go outside and feel alone.’ It’s a succinct and eerily accurate depiction of the countless futile conversations you try to have until you finally just give up. It’s times like that when you should listen to Nosferatu D2.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/2-people-0-superpowers"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;2 People, 0 Superpowers by Nosferatu D2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
2. Benjamin Shaw – Somewhere Over the M6

Pretty decisively my favorite Benjamin Shaw song, and unfortunately one I’ll probably never hear live. It includes another set of lyrics of which I’m very fond: ‘I dream about you nightly, on a moped I arrive and we kiss without using our eyes.’ Ben is a monster of a songwriter within a mouse of a performer, and I mean that in the kindest of ways. I’ve been fascinated by Ben for a long time, which is probably why I still can’t manage to hold a proper conversation with the man. Sorry, Ben!

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/somewhere-over-the-m6-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Somewhere Over the M6 by Benjamin Shaw&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

3. Jack Hayter – I Stole the Cutty Sark

Another hands-down favorite. It is beastly. The first night I heard Jack play this song was a night of other firsts as well, including the first (and only) time I heard Jamie shout for a room full of people to ‘SHUT THE FUCK UP!’ Good times.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/i-stole-the-cutty-sark"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;I Stole The Cutty Sark by Jack Hayter&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

4. Fighting Kites – Cat is Egg

I own three copies of the Fighting Kites/Broken Shoulder split. I don’t have a very good reason for this other than that it’s one of the most kickass CDs, ever. I’m fairly certain I’ve seen Fighting Kites perform more than any other AAH artist, and every show was awesome. I was lucky enough to make it to FK’s last pre-hiatus show, but I’m still so bummed they won’t be playing together anymore.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/cat-is-egg"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Cat is Egg by Fighting Kites&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

5. Wartgore Hellsnicker – C+F = POW

I’ve never known the glory of seeing Wartgore live, but I can at least live vicariously through their EP and Jamie, who won’t shut up about how incredible they are. This song in particular makes me want to yell and jump around a lot. I would keep writing things, but Wartgore Paul needs me to go stomp around the room.

DOWNLOAD: Benjamin Shaw - 'Kick the Dog'

2012-02-05T17:55:00.006Z

Hallo!

We're doing another of those artistically pointless but promotionally useful singles. It's for 'The Birds Chirp & The Sun Shines' and it's got a cool cover.

"The Birds Chirp & The Sun Shines"

The B-Side, which you may not have heard already is "Kick the Dog" a 4.1 minute rocker...Crazy Horse with casio and drum machine...Lazy Horse?

FREE DOWNLOAD:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/kick-the-dog-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Kick the Dog by Benjamin Shaw&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Download it and spread the word.

Benjamin Shaw's debut LP "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" is out now.

Benjamin Shaw.net

Benjamin Shaw on Facebook (feat. upcoming shows - Feb/March/April)

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

LISTEN AGAIN: Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences in session for Resonance FM

2012-02-05T11:49:00.005Z

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences had the honour of providing the first "Hello GoodBye" live session of 2012 on London's Resonance FM. The outsider pop champions debuted three new songs and sat for an interview with Dexter Bentley.

You can stream it below:

Hello GoodBye 12 January 2012: Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences and Black Spot by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

Or download the fancy podcast.

Their latest single is available now bundled with their Audio Antihero EP for £3.99:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/you-cant-make-somebody-love-you-of-course-i-stole-the-train-double-a-side-single"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You Can't Make Somebody Love You / Of Course I Stole The Train - Double A-Side Single by Paul Hawkins &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Awkward Silences&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

And there's also a free session available for download from Dandelion Radio on our 'sub-sister' label BarelyOut Recordings.

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

LOOK AT ME, I OWN RECORDS! #12 - Ben Parker (Nosferatu D2)

2012-02-01T00:05:00.001Z

"Look At Me, I Own Records!" returns again, an under the hood look at the record collections of our true loves. If you'd like to contribute to the series then get in touch HERE.

Musician/writer Ben Parker made his mark on Audio Antihero Records as one half of the acclaimed Nosferatu D2, our proverbial calling card. He has subsequently released music with Superman Revenge Squad and The Jonbarr Hinge and recently made forays into writing with his first play "Yeah, This House Is Haunted" enjoying a sell-out run late last year and his debut graphic novel on the way. He was once described as a 'lyrical ninja'.

Look At Me, I Own Records - Ben Parker

Looking through my record collection is like flicking through a sequence of musical obsessions that I’ve had over the years.

FIRST ALBUM I OWNED

The first album I owned was 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson, on cassette. And I seem to remember that my parents brought me this when I was at primary school. Maybe it was a birthday present; that would make sense. But I seem to remember it being a present they gave me at Easter; but that makes no sense at all. I still have it somewhere, I think. But I haven’t included a photo, because I can’t be bothered to search it out. And because everyone knows what the front cover of 'Thriller' looks like. Don’t they?

FIRST CD I OWNED

The first CD I owned was 'Bigger and Deffer' by LL Cool J. But I hardly ever played it, mainly because the only CD player was in the main room in the house and I didn’t think my parents really liked rap music that much. But I found it in a boot sale and it was really cheap so I purchased it, maybe thinking that I would eventually own a CD player myself one day, or maybe not really thinking it through at all. A similar problem occurred when I bought 'Scum' by Napalm Death before I owned a CD player, again because I found it for really cheap - But I don’t think that album is particularly listenable at all anyway, so no great loss really.

BEST ALBUM COVER (FOR RECORD THAT DOESN’T ACTUALLY PLAY)

'Jailbreak' by Thin Lizzy has a marvellous cover. So good that it didn’t actually bother me that I paid 20p for a record that is so scratched it doesn’t play at all. The sleeve is in very good health, even if the record it is meant to be protecting isn’t. There’s a hole in the front that reveals the band as cartoon characters inside, then you open it up and see the jailbreak they are running from. Oh, just look at it - words do not do justice to such a piece of art.

A HAND MADE ALBUM COVER (FOR A RECORD THAT DOES ACTUALLY PLAY)

The first album I heard by Leonard Cohen was 'Songs From A Room', and the version I picked up from a charity shop was this one - clearly the old record sleeve was been lost or something so a previous owner has improvised a new sleeve with some yellow card and a biro. I quite like it; I think it adds to the mystery of the record somehow.

MOST UNPLEASANT ARTWORK

'Joy' by Isaac Hayes is another much loved charity shop find. But the picture on the back of the sleeve is somewhat hard to look at as it depicts Isaac seemingly just dressed in gold chains; a look that compliments one of the tracks on the album which I find quite hard to listen to as it seems to offer quite a detailed soundtrack to Isaac wooing a lady.

THE ONLY SIGNED RECORD I OWN

When Pantera came to Croydon I wasn’t really much of a fan, and I’m not really much of a fan now, but all my friends were going to get stuff signed so I went along. We queued outside Rocket Records in South Croydon and when I got inside I decided I’d feel a bit awkward without something to sign, so I brought the LP of 'Vulgar Display of Power' and got it signed. I still have the signed copy, and it is probably in mint condition as I haven’t played it much; I often wonder if its worth anything now that Dimebag Darrell has been murdered and all that.

MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF

I used to buy loads of records from charity shops. Anything that looked remotely interesting would be bought, as long as it was about 20p. The first Burt Bacharach record I got was this one, 'Make it Easy on Yourself', and what makes this one so good is the title track because it features Burt himself on vocals. And I really like his voice, mainly because it’s not really that strong and, as he struggles through the song, it has loads of character.

I think the Nosferatu D2 song called I Killed Burt Bacharach was started as a jam with me singing this song over the top, and it progressed from there.

MINX BY LEATHERFACE

One of my favourite ever records is called' Minx' and is by a band called Leatherface. I brought this on cassette and listened to it a hell of a lot whilst doing my a-levels. A few years later I began a quest to find it on CD - it had been deleted Roughneck records by then and after many a year I discovered a somewhat unloved copy of it in one of the CD and Tape exchanges that had gradually been reduced to a pound. So I got it. And then it was re-released. But it is still a treasure.

THE MALE NURSE

Another obsession of mine was the Male Nurse - a band that sounded a lot like early Fall, but I hadn’t heard early Fall at the time so I thought they were pretty original - saw them live a few times and then I think Tempertwig supported them at their last ever gig (I think - they had a fight before and only two members played. I think Adam really disliked them). I have all three of the singles that were put our by the band, and a CD that contains their John Peel sessions that was posted to me by a kind stranger that saw me mention them on the internet. But the main thing about them is that I have heard from someone that put out one of their singles that she thought they’d released an album and then never did anything with it - so I still have a dream of tracking down this set of recordings somehow one day. Maybe on cassette.

OTHER MUSICAL ‘QUESTS’ OF NOTE

Its always nice to have a record to seek out. A job that was a lot easier back in the days when a load more record shops existed. As a result, I have nearly everything Alasdair Roberts has released (I went round record shops in Scotland when I first heard Appendix Out and brought everything I could find by them), I’ve waited patiently for blokes in charity shops to re-consider the Isaac Hayes record they found seconds before I did, and I still live in hope of finding a few Prince Buster singles that Benjamin Zephaniah once played on the radio and described as very rare indeed. As a result, I now own far too many records for my own good. But long may it continue.

The semi-legendary Nosferatu D2 album is available now on CD & Download:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/were-gonna-walk-around-this-city-with-our-headphones-on-to-block-out-the-noise"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise by Nosferatu D2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

More content from Ben Parker:

'Hired Gun Radio' - Guest Mix

Thanks Ben and Never Say DIY!
Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Jack Hayter - Free Covers Collection

2012-01-30T22:16:00.004Z

New material from Jack Hayter is coming very soon. It's lovely. It's different. It's Jack Hayter. It's Audio Antihero. It's a new kind of awesome.

But until then, here's a free collection of cover songs.

(Click on the track to see the story behind the cover and download individually)

1. The Unsent Letter (Originally by Machine Gun Fellatio)

2. Jeane (Originally by The Smiths)

3. Another Girl Another Planet - Pedal-Steel version (Originally by The Only Ones)

4. Take It To The Limit (Originally by The Eagles)

These songs were originally given away on this very blog to promote his Audio Antihero released 2011 EP "Sucky Tart":

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/sucky-tart"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Sucky Tart by Jack Hayter&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Features four gorgeous folky curiosities and glorious cover art from our very own Benjamin 'without a flaw' Shaw.

If you don't care about us you may still have heard Jack from his time in Hefner, Spongefinger or Dollboy, no promises though.

Enjoy, I think 'Unsent Letter' is the best one.

Jamie - Audio Antihero

www.audioantihero.com

LISTEN: Fighting Kites Retrospective

2012-01-29T19:00:00.003Z

IN MEMORIAM.

Oh Fighting Kites, how we will miss you.

Last week, Fighting Kites simultaneously launched their debut LP and played their final show (for some time, at least). These sounds are their story. The only instrumental band under 40 to not just be Easy Listening for hipsters.

Audio Antihero's 'Damn right, it's Fighting Kites!' by Audio Antihero on Mixcloud

Tracks 1 & 2 are from "The Vlaams Tapes":
http://tiny.cc/esxe8

Tracks 3 & 10 are from the Fighting Kites LP - available now on Variant:
http://tiny.cc/e6a0a

Tracks 4 & 5 are from "SPLIT" with Broken Shoulder on Audio Antihero:
http://tiny.cc/n7auc

Tracks 6 & 9 are from the Fighting Kites EP:
http://tiny.cc/vzv7x

Track 7 was recorded live in session for Resonance FM:
http://tiny.cc/tiazg

Track 8 is from the "Bob Hope would." Japan compilation:
http://tiny.cc/0zekh

Track 11 is from "Audio Antihero Day" on the Fika/Darren Hayman Digital Advent Calendar:
http://tiny.cc/d404a - yes, Christmas songs in late January. Is your tree still up?

Try also:

Hired Gun Radio: Fighting Kites' "Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time" mix by Audio Antihero on Mixcloud

RIP Fighting Kites, Never Say DIY!

WATCH: Benjamin Shaw - TLOBF Session

2012-01-26T13:43:00.007Z

Our man Benjamin Shaw performed 'How To Test The Depth Of A Well' on a park bench for The Line Of Best Fit, you see him in moderate action here:

See full article: here

TLOBF were pretty consistently nice about Benjamin Shaw's debut LP "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" giving him 'Song of the Day', a gorgeous review and exclusively previewing the album in full with a fancy stream. They even liked the EP. I love TLOBF.

'How To Test The Depth Of A Well' is taken from "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" which can be bought from Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, Rough Trade and beyond. Please buy it.

Those liking this simpler sound from Benjamin Shaw might like to try this free download of a session he recorded for WVUM Radio in Miami last year, it's his Easy Listening EP and is also utterly stunning.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://barelyout.bandcamp.com/album/wvum-sessions-15-08-2011"&amp;amp;amp;gt;WVUM Sessions - 15/08/2011 by Benjamin Shaw / Broken Shoulder&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

LOOK AT ME, I OWN RECORDS! #11 - Vanessa Deroo

2012-01-24T20:01:00.018Z

Vanessa/Vee/Frenchy/RooRoo is one of the best friends I've ever had, a better person than me, a former writer for The 405, a DJ and also a French woman.

"Look At Me, I Own Records!" is back for 2012. Thank you Vee.

Look at me! I own records – a story

Hello kids. In these troubled times, I should insert a joke like ‘I’m so old I own actual records and not only mp3’s’ but 1/ I am lazy, 2/ I am French, meaning, not really funny when I want to be. So let’s get straight to the point.

I am really proud of my records collection (yes, Jamie, EVEN of my pop/emo stuff), here’s a glimpse, enjoy.

The “hello, you’ve changed my life” record

The Smashing Pumpkins – Adore

There are so many things related to this album. Deaths, break-ups, coming back home from parties at 5 am on summer 2005, tears, smiles and other things. The soundtrack of my life. I bought it in 2000, then lost it, then bought it again last year. Adventures. No matter how Billy disappoints me now, I wouldn’t be the same person without this album.

The “most recent purchase” records

La Dispute – Wildlife & Sugartown Cabaret – Beyond Foams EP

I went to see La Dispute last night, and bought their 2^nd album at the merch table, because I’m a nice girl. I love post-hardcore, and this record is really, really good.

Sugartown Cabaret were supporting. They’re French, so I wasn’t supposed to like them, but truth is they blew me away last night. So tense and powerful. Their EP is worth listening to. You should check them out.

The "Pretty Awesome Gift" record
Matador records – Matador at 21

Last year, I celebrated a quarter of century on this earth– I know. My friend Tony gave me this AWESOME/AMAZING/WHOA box containing seven cds from 1989 to 2010, featuring lovely people such as Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Pavement, Ted Leo, Kurt Vile, Unsane and many, many more. Also, POKER COINS. Such a beautiful object. Thank you Tony! (My friends rule)

The "Teenage Years" record

Madinkà – Love Concept

Remember when I said I was proud ? Forget it. And now, imagine the 17-year-old me, so obsessed with The Cure, The Pumpkins, Depeche Mode and all. I was following a French band at the time, Indochine, who were basically said bands copycats. This band took Madinkà on tour with them. Madinkà were basically Indochine copycats. I was hooked. I wasn’t iving in Paris at the time so I spent an entire day trying to find their records in the city. This self-released album is not bad. Just, the voice and lyrics are terrible. Still, it’s fun to listen to them. You know, when you’re with friends. Drunk.

The “I should be ashamed but I am not” records

Britney Spears – My Prerogative, Greatest Hits & Paramore – The Final Riot

Guys, I couldn’t choose. I am a pop-freak. There I said it! And what can I say? Britney has some huge tunes, classics even (don’t tell me you never danced on Toxic, I wouldn’t believe you. I used to play it during DJ-sets, and all of you hipsters had your feet on fire, you little liars).

As for Paramore, pop-punk is good, female voices are good, it’s energetic and funny, I don’t ask for more .

The “Riot-grrrl’ record

Bikini Kill – The CD version of the first two records

I won’t lie, when I was a teenager, Hole = riot-grrrls. Then I grew up, and felt really inspired by Kathleen Hanna and Tobi Vail. We need more people like them in our world. End of.

The “support your local scene” record

King Of Conspiracy – Noisy Sounds and Heartbeats

These are my friends and this was their first release ever. Self-released in their bedroom, this first album is punk, nervous and fast. And good, by the way. They’ve gone a little bit more ‘noise’ since, but the evolution makes sense. I still love to tease them by requesting ‘Set It Off’, though.

The ‘Feel Good’ record

Jonah Matranga – And

Jonah is a friend of a friend, that’s how I first heard about him (before realising he was the same Jonah as the one in the band Far, yes, I AM SLOW.) “And” is an album released via Yr Letter rds in France, and every time I play this record I feel optimistic and serene about how I am and about the future. Maybe it’s because of the lyrics, or because of Jonah’s voice. Either way, it makes me happy. Thank you Jonah!

The “hello, apparently I’m rare” record

My Bloody Valentine – Tremolo

MBV are one of my top 5 bands. I was wandering in a second-hand records shop when I stumbled across this EP. I couldn’t pay for it, so my friend Sophie did it for me. She’s aces. Anyway, this EP contains To Here Knows When and Swallow, along with two non-album tracks and all is linked by weird instrumentals. Kevin Shields is a genius. I heard this EP was quite rare. Maybe it’s not, but don’t ruin my column, okay? Okay.

The “Look! I own vinyls too!” ...vinyl.

Chokebore – Anything Near Water

My friends rule, new edition. I’ve been spoilt for my 25^th birthday, that’s for sure! Gift from my friend James. I love Chokebore with a passion; it’s another band that means a lot in my life. Troy’s voice and lyrics touch me deep inside. I am so glad they reformed (they also released new music, you should listen to them). This album contains one of my favourite song ever, Thin as Clouds. “but all the people out here have drowned all hearts and drowned all hands they're half way out and they're half way down that leaves them...needing”

Stay safe, kids. x

If you would like to contribute to "Look At Me, I Own Records!" then get in touch HERE.

The next installment will be from Nosferatu D2's Ben Parker.

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

http://www.audioantihero.com/

INTERVIEW: Fighting Kites at the door...(coming or going?)

2012-01-15T11:48:00.013Z

In late 2011, I had the distinct pleasure of releasing material from Fighting Kites. Pay-dirt for all that mucking about I had to do with Broken Shoulder. With delays befalling their debut LP, I jumped at the chance to debut them first, like a music industry thunder thief. The result was "Split" a gorgeous split EP with Fighting Kites (4 songs) and Broken Shoulder (3 much longer songs).

Sadly the band will be playing their 'hibernation' show on January 21st at The Victoria in Dalston. They may never return, I totally do not know. This finale is free entry and features Benjamin Shaw Band (second ever showing), Broken Shoulder and heaps more - more information.

To mark our fond farewell, Dave and Neil of Fighting Kites have written an introductory interview to say good bye. A little confusing. Largely my fault.

ONWARD:

Tell the monkeys who Fighting Kites are. Where/who/why? A/S/L?

Fighting Kites are a gestalt entity. Fighting Kites are Dan David Luke Neil. Kite Fighting is a dangerous and rewarding hobby.

Do you have a nickname for your fans? "The Fighters", for example?

Fighting Kites fans are called Fighting Kittens.

As a faux-label and makeshift PR man, it’s my job to lie to people and tell them that you sound similar to bands people have heard of - like Sonic Youth and Mogwai. In truth, just between us, who actually influences you?

Robert Crumb. Colleen. Larry David. The Shadows. Thai Shadow Music. Craft Beer. The NHS.

Exactly how rich and famous do you want to get? Just so I don’t overdo it.

Rich enough to wear those horrible quilted jackets. Famous enough to be whispered about in queues.

Describe your feelings for Neil (Broken Shoulder) since he began his own extracurricular solo vehicle. Envy? Respect? Contempt? Fear? In your own words…

An almost overwhelming love. He should injure himself more often.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://barelyout.bandcamp.com/track/conquers-resonance-fm-session"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Conquers (Resonance FM Session) by Fighting Kites&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Neil, beyond yourself, you’ve also played with Audio Antihero artists like Benjamin Shaw, Jack Hayter and Wartgore Hellsnicker. Is there anyone on the roster that you particularly care for as men or musicians?

Benjamin Shaw and Wartgore's Paul were colleagues of mine in a doomed warehouse. We formed Tapegun there, which although we didn't know it at the time is now an AAH supergroup. The one recorded song by Tapegun is talked about in hushed tones. Someone once said it sounded like Unwound which was exciting for me.

I still work with Ben, and he is still nice and still supremely talented. We tried to get Paul to work with us again to recreate the dream team but it went slightly awry. Forever onward!

What’s your most disgusting ambition as a musician? Would you take the other Kites with you?

Dan's ambition to take up butchery is incompatible with the 50% of the band that is militantly vegetarian.

Describe ‘Split’. As an idea it’s a little hard to justify but as a record it’s absolutely stunning. How do you feel about the process and end result?

The ends justify the means. It was fast and dirty but it came out clean and nimble, taught and lean. Like a dog in a bathtub.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/fr"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;FR. by Fighting Kites&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Tell us about the debut LP?

The long recorded and in progress debut album is coming out shortly on Variant records. It will show another side to FK. There are a few ballads on there and some messing about on funny instruments. Split was our stripped back to basics recording. The album will show what you get if you spend a long time adding and removing unnecessary bits. It is a diamond we have been polishing so long it now looks like a tropical fruit.

Words of wisdom?

Like a gay jazz singer we come out swinging.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/carlos-mends-shoulder"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Carlos Mends Shoulder by Fighting Kites&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

You can catch the mighty Fighting Kites live (possibly for the last time) on January 21st at The Victoria in Dalston with other Audio Antihero artists...and other good artists. Their debut LP will be out on Variant Records pretty soon and you can of course still buy "Split" digitally and on CD (while stocks last) and as a farewell gift there's a free download of their gorgeous showing on ResonanceFM, live in session on our unnecessary 'sub-sister label' BarelyOut Recordings.

Who are the only instrumental band I knowingly like? Damn right, it's Fighting Kites.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/fighting-kites-broken-shoulder-split-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder - Split EP by Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
Never Say BYE,
Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide
www.audioantihero.com

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences: Live in Session for Resonance FM (14/01/2012)

2012-01-10T10:49:00.005Z

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences will kick off the first "Hello GoodBye Show" of 2012 on London's Resonance FM Station with a live session and interview. For more information visit - hellogoodbyeshow.com

It may sound a little like their new single...
You Can't Make Somebody Love You / Of Course I Stole The Train - Double A-Side Single by Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences

If you like what you hear then tune in to 104.FM (London only) / Resonancefm.com (worldwide) on Saturday the 14th at 12pm.

To stream and download past Audio Antihero related Resonance FM sessions then take a wee trip over to our unnecesary 'sub-sister label', BarelyOut Recordings.

Ultimate Donko (Resonance FM Session) by Broken Shoulder
Conquers (Resonance FM Session) by Fighting Kites
I'll probably see you on twitter.

Never Say DIY!
Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide
http://www.audioantihero.com/

JANUARY SALES: Buy 1 Get 1 Free & 15% Discount - ENDED

2012-01-01T18:39:00.000Z

We at Audio Antihero are enjoying all the dignity of a 'we honestly didn't blow all our money last year and now need to desperately recoup some' January sale...

Firstly, if you buy one of the following CD EPs you can get a second of your choice for free, just let me know which one you want in the check-out notes or an e-mail.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/sucky-tart"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sucky Tart by Jack Hayter&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

"There’s not a weak moment here which can only set the impetus for a long-player, please Mr Hayter, please, please, break your heart some more for us, you loveable, fantastic, exquisite balladeer - 5/5. - Is This Music?

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/moderate-rock"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Moderate Rock by Wartgore Hellsnicker&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrong-life"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Wrong Life by Paul Hawkins &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Awkward Silences&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

"With his gravelly, Nick Cave vocal and links to the world of antifolk, we're big fans of Paul Hawkins here at Clash HQ. And with the release of his new EP, The Wrong Life, he's pulled a blinder." - CLASH Music

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/fighting-kites-broken-shoulder-split-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder - Split EP by Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ampamp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

And you can get 15% off the rest of our catalogue in our web-shop by using this discount code at check-out: "suckypoxcity" - visit bandcamp for this discount on releases from Benjamin Shaw (including his incredible "It's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" album), Nosferatu D2 (classic debut), Broken Shoulder (exquisite noise solo debut) and Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences (new single, frantic!).

(thisdiscountcodemayormaynotstillwork!)

Never Say BUY!
Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide
http://www.audioantihero.com/

Audio Antihero's most enjoyed records of 2011

2012-01-01T16:46:00.012Z

2011. These were some albums/EPs that I liked this year, in very little order. I've probably forgot some.

(Obviously Benjamin Shaw's "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" is my real favourite of the year but I can't use that one - BUT YOU CAN).

Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness (Wichita)

Rob St John - Weald (Song, By Toad)

Rob St.John 'Sargasso Sea' from rob st john on Vimeo.

Johnny Foreigner - Vs Everything (Alcopop!)

Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps (Sub Pop)

Darren Hayman - January Songs (Belka)

Day 16 Let Me Sleep - Darren Hayman and Jack Hayter from Darren Hayman on Vimeo.

Yuck - Yuck (Fat Possum)

Art Brut - Brilliant! Tragic! (Cooking Vinyl)

Cults - Cults (Sony)

The Resonance Association - Heliopause (Mrs.Vee)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://trahq.bandcamp.com/track/face-the-eschaton"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Face The Eschaton by The Resonance Association&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Bon Iver - Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar)

The Outdoor Types - It Is The Mercy (I Blame The Parents)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://iblametheparentsrecords.bandcamp.com/track/the-outdoor-types-the-murderer"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Outdoor Types - The Murderer by I Blame The Parents Records&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

PAWS - split with Lady North (Gerry Loves Records)

Wu Lyf - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain (LYF)

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde (Fat Possum)

Runaround Kids - Linked Arms (Philophobia)

Rival Schools - Pedals (Photo Finish Records)

Rain Kings - Ghost Songs (I Blame The Parents)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://iblametheparentsrecords.bandcamp.com/track/ghost-songs"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Ghost Songs by Rain Kings&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Hangin Freud - Sunken (Daddy Tank)

Hangin Freud - Swamp - Sunken (DADD05) by Daddy Tank Records

Shield Your Eyes - Volume 4 (Function)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://functionrecords.bandcamp.com/track/you-merit-high-hopes"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You merit high hopes by Shield Your Eyes&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Zola Jesus - Conatus - (Souterrain Transmissions)

All of Audio Antihero's 2011 releases can be bought on CD & Download from our Bandcamp.

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero Records: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Lists of things I did and didn't do: 2010 Interview with Audio Antihero

2011-12-30T23:50:00.001Z

So about this time last year, I was asked to do an interview for a Norwich fanzine of which I never knew the name, nor do I know if it was ever published. It was too good not to be, so I assume it was.

I'm posting it here now because A) as my own number one fan I tend to do things like this and B) I think it's quite funny to see how I felt going into the 2011 when we now know how I feel slivering out of 2011...

(Further reading for extra credit, Audio Antihero's Top 10 Dissapointments of 2011: A Thankless Task Dissected).

If you'd care to see what I said, contradicted or otherwise abandoned...read on. Rereading this was like watching myself age drastically, which I have also been doing.

So what was it about Nosferatu D2 which made you feel was worth throwing your time, effort and money into?

I couldn’t think of a better record. I’d wanted to start a label since my late teens and I’d been eyeing Nosferatu D2 for that whilst they were still going. When they split up I gave up on the idea, it was only when I spent some time at Southern Records that I got my heart back. I had to ask ‘if I could only release one record, what would it be?’ and Nosferatu D2 were the answer. Most people don’t get the chance to release an album (much less THE album) by one of their favourites bands from when they were a teenager. I’m pretty privileged.

Both artists on your label recorded their records pretty much single-handedly. How important to you is it that Audio Antihero's artists have that DIY mentality?

I love DIY but it isn’t necessarily a big deal. I wouldn’t really want a band who‘re just sitting around waiting for it to happen to them and any band who ‘signs’ to Audio Antihero has to understand the limitations of the label financially. I think I just need artists to be good, decent and aware of their resources. Bruce Springsteen isn’t what you’d call DIY but I’d be more than happy to release his next record. DIY is just common sense.

Do you think there have been any major points where the word about the bands and Audio Antihero really spread?

We’ve had our moments. Over time we’ve had radio exposure like 6Music, NME Radio and Triple R, reviews from DIS, 405, GITTV, Music Fix, TLOBF, Organ, The Skinny and got lucky with some mentions on Pitchfork, Time Out, etc. Nosferatu D2 even got on the front of the iTunes Alternative page. So there’s been moments where we’ve been ‘bigger’ (luckier) than the other doomed DIY labels we share a boat with, I suppose.

The biggest boost definitely came from the Los Campesinos! endorsement. I actually dread to think of how much worse off the label would be without that leg up. I kind of wish that luck had come a little later on though, I really didn’t know what I was doing, the website wasn’t finished and I didn’t even have the stock at the time – so I do think I probably fumbled the ball a bit. Still, eternally grateful to have been given that exposure and opportunity. Awesome band too, so a double honour.

The label's just had its first birthday, how has the first year compared to what you expected when you started out? Has it been the commercial suicide you expected?

You know, it’s not been as bad as expected. I mean, sales are BAD. But I always knew they would be. There’s been no profiteering on our end but the costs are low and spread out – so it’s an affordable loss. Sadly Audio Antihero will never be sustainable as a business – but I can keep it running as an awesome mother of a record label.

T-shirts have sold pretty badly though!

What's coming up for AAH? Will Benjamin Shaw's album-in-a-month see light of day on the label?

That album is a mystery to me, man. It’s being done for Soundcloud’s International Album Making Month so I guess it’ll be self-contained but I’ll do anything Ben wants me to! I sent the link to him as a joke and he’s actually started on it. I’ve heard a couple of songs from it live. One was a 30 second murmur about ‘sometimes I fear my head might explode’ which he followed with ‘I’m hoping to do another 60 or 70 just like that’. I love him.

Next up, I’m planning to do 12 EPs next year. Hopefully starting in January, I’ll tail over into 2012 if I need to. It’s going to be a monthly digital EP, each from a different artist. I’m also toying with the idea of a pressing a couple of 7 inches or maybe an EP of unreleased Nosferatu D2 material, if they’ll let me. I’m really still looking for ‘the one’ to push next as the real follow up to Benjamin Shaw’s EP. It’s a tough thing to do though, following up two of your favourite albums.

How does file sharing affect you? Do you feel that because you're in a position to talk personally with listeners on Twitter etc and are obviously putting a lot of your own time and money into AAH that people respect your business?

I think file sharing affects every inch of the music industry, from the bands to labels to distributors to manufacturing companies to recording studios to shops to the sleeve designers to photographers to journalists to people who provide raw materials for plastics, etc etc.

I’ve had some torrents and the like and it is a bit mind boggling. Some of them have even stolen press clips that describe what the label is doing and how much of a financial struggle it is and all the rest – so one has to assume they just don’t care. It annoys me, I had to buy 1000 copies of the albums, why should they get theirs for free? I’ve called a few sites on it though and most of them were alright about it and took the album down, to be fair.

I’d say though, that even if no one had ever illegally downloaded one of our albums that we’re still suffering from file sharing. Music has lost value. People actually try to make me feel stupid for paying for music, you know? People buy less music now. That means AAH sell less music. That means less shops take less AAH music. Meaning less people see it.

I think the convenience of streaming and downloading just stops people from caring like they used to. No effort goes into finding a band anymore, so ‘difficult’ albums can easily be written off. I think we’ll come to regret the digital age, if we’re still capable of doing so.

Are there any other acts, labels or people out there who you think are working along the same lines as AAH? Or any in the past you're a fan of and taken hope from?

I always admired Sub Pop. They really did it for themselves, they made something out of nothing. They made a city a brand. I mean, I kind of hate ‘branding’ but I respect what they achieved. I adore the early ‘grunge’ bands etc they got started and even now they’re with Warners they’re releasing really awesome stuff. That new No Age album is pretty much all I’ve been listening to lately. Their logo and catchphrases are definitely something I’ve taken or stolen a lot of inspiration from too.

There’s plenty of people doing a similar thing to AAH. Most of them probably do a better job of it too. Armellodie, Barely Regal, I Blame The Parents, Jezus Factory, Records Records Records, Song,By Toad, Alcopop!, Philophobia are all nice people releasing nice records. Probably not profiting either. Labels like that keep me realistic, if nothing else.

One of the most frustrating yet charming things about Nosferatu D2 was the way they just stopped when they stopped enjoying playing. If AAH stopped being a labour of love would you stop? Do you think it's vital for independent DIY projects to stay enjoyable?

I don’t know. Indie isn’t always enjoyable. Passion and pleasure are two very different things. I had a nasty personal thing pretty soon into the launch of the label that probably allowed me to miss a lot of opportunities but you just need to keep looking forward. Bad reviews, being polite to rude people, accounting, data entry, gritting your teeth at idiot audiences talking over an artist who deserves much better – there’s plenty of things I don’t particularly enjoy with Audio Antihero and sometimes failure hurts but it’s all about the satisfaction at the end. It’s when someone tells me they’ve picked up one of the albums in their local and they stayed up until 3am listening to it that I know I’m doing what I want to be doing. Just feeling that for one day in twenty your artist has actually had what they deserve is a pretty wonderful experience.

It’s when you don’t enjoy the music you’re putting your name to that you need to stop. I haven’t released an album in a year. Why? Because I haven’t found anyone I like enough, mutually anyway!

I don’t really know why Nosferatu D2 stopped feeling how they did – but I get the impression they aren’t the same people now that they were then. Maybe it was the ‘summer they finally cut their hair’ as Ben Parker puts it on the new Superman Revenge Squad EP?

Anyway, I’m pretty excited about 2011. I hope some other people are too. Never Say DIY.

God, I'm depressed.

For further 'end of year' opinion:

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.bandcamp.com

Paper Bag Waiter: The short-lived blog of Benjamin Shaw, corner shop wine connoisseur

2011-12-29T18:54:00.003Z

Paper Bag Waiter - for the finer winer

I'd fully recommend that you have a read of Benjamin Shaw's short lived blog. Half wine, half whine - all glory.

Or if you hate to read, just buy his records now from Bandcamp, particularly his debut LP, 'There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet'.

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

Behind the new single: Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences

2011-12-28T21:05:00.007Z

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/you-cant-make-somebody-love-you-of-course-i-stole-the-train-double-a-side-single"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You Can't Make Somebody Love You / Of Course I Stole The Train - Double A-Side Single by Paul Hawkins &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Awkward Silences&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Back in July we released an uncharacteristically tasteful excursion from the post-punk-anti-folk formula that Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences had made their own through two albums on the mighty Jezus Factory Records...as part of our '2011 Commercial Suicide EPs Series' we had the pleasure of putting out "The Wrong Life" EP. This Outsider Pop extravaganza was well received by press and BBC radio with its backwoods Americana, bouncing horror pop, crawling country and sardonic Eagles-esque AOR. For a sampler try out free track "GOMORRAH"...it's glorious.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/gomorrah"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Gomorrah by Paul Hawkins &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Awkward Silences&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

On his epic double album "Apologies To The Enlightenment" they kept us guessing...swapping style, pace, theme, genre and influence, track by track.

This new single drops the rule book too, "You Can't Make Somebody Love You / Of Course I Stole The Train" is an end of year single in the festive timeframe that re-records one 'Wrong Life' track ("Of Course I Stole The Train") which was described as 'Smiths-esque' in one review and perhaps their most abstract sounding single ("You Can't Make Somebody Love You") and fills them full of fire and fury.

The idea of this single was born when Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences were venturing into a make-shift to record a session for Mark Whitby's Dandelion Radio show (free download coming soon). I couldn't shake the memory of an absolutely storming show they played at The 100 Club, just prior to the EP's release, where these two songs were performed deafeningly loud and inhumanly fast...perhaps the best they'd ever sounded.

With a view to simply releasing what I wanted to hear, I asked if the sextet might consider recording these two on the day as well. They didn't disappoint, this venomous sounding session produced the two tracker you hear streaming at the top of this page. Without time for any real PR campaign, without a radio friendly segment to be heard in its combined 7 minutes or any real reason for its existence beyond the fact that we wanted to listen to it, this really is the sound of a band and label having abandoned all critical and commercial aspirations...and that my friends, is punk rock at its best.

"You Can't Make Somebody Love You / Of Course I Stole The Train" can be purchased for £1.20 via Bandcamp or for £3.99 with "The Wrong Life" EP - Enjoy.

The artwork for both records was done by our man Benjamin Shaw.

Never Say DIY!
Jamie Halliday - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide
http://www.audioantihero.bandcamp.com/

It's A Wonderful Life...For an Audio Antihero

2011-12-25T19:41:00.005Z

Audio Antihero were blessed this Christmas by the opportunity to feature heavily on the digital advent calender put together by Fika Recordings and Darren Hayman (Hefner/The French/Secondary Modern) to promote his new Christmas in Haworth EP.

We got to enjoy free downloads from the following..

December 23rd: AUDIO ANTIHERO DAY!

Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites - This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone):

Broken Shoulder - Stiller Nite:

Nosferatu D2 - It's Christmas Time (For God's Sake):

Read full article.

December 22nd: JACK HAYTER!

Jack Hayter - The Anti-Santa:

Read full article.

December 2nd: PAUL HAWKINS & THE BLEAK MIDWINTERS!

Paul Hawkins & The Bleak Midwinters - Tonight I Will Be Santa:

Read full article.

There was an absolutely stunning contribution on December 10th from Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences' own Ian Button (as Papernut Cambridge) which you can download from HERE.

As you all probably know, Benjamin Shaw, Fighting Kites, Broken Shoulder, Jack Hayter and Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences all have fabulous releases available from Audio Antihero now - buy from Bandcamp. Darren Hayman too can be heard on Audio Antihero's "Bob Hope would." charity compilation - HERE.

Thanks & Never Say DIY! ...and Merry Christmas, you naughty motherfuckers.

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in stocking fillers

Benjamin Shaw - 405 Session (video)

2011-12-22T17:45:00.002Z

Watch Benjamin Shaw in session with The 405, chattering about hope, David Cameron and how 'serious artists' are nasty bastards. He finishes off with a lovely version of "How To Test The Depth Of A Well".

Full article: HERE

His magnificent debut album "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" is out now on Audio Antihero records - order now: Bandcamp / iTunes

If you dig Benjamin Shaw in session then journey over to our needless 'sister company' BarelyOut Recordings to download sessions with WVUM (Miami) and Dandelion Radio.

Audio Antihero show on WVUM 90.5FM, Miami 16/08/2011

2011-12-08T22:25:00.000Z

Listen to an Audio Antihero special on WVUM Radio, Miami. Featuring an interview with me and sessions from Benjamin Shaw and Broken Shoulder.

Audio Antihero show on WVUM 90.5FM, Miami 16/08/2011 by AAH Records

'Audio Antihero Show' originally broadcast August 16th 2011 on Kathleen Elise's 'lo-down' show on WVUM 90.5FM, Miami.

Features:
In Session: Benjamin Shaw / Broken Shoulder
In Interview: Audio Antihero's Jamie Halliday

+ Music from:
Nosferatu D2 / Wartgore Hellsnicker / Jack Hayter / Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences / Fighting Kites / Runaround Kids / Darren Hayman

I don't think I said anything of any great interest but it's always nice when the Americans want to talk to
you.

Download the sessions from BarelyOut Recordings:
http://barelyout.bandcamp.com/album/wvum-sessions-15-08-2011

Playlist:
http://wvum.org/index.php/music/playlist/the_lo-down_episode_21_audio_antihero_show

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT: Fighting Kites vs Jack Hayter

2011-11-27T18:02:00.004Z

Two fabulous shows to choose from this friday (02/12/2011)...hard to pick, eh?

Firstly Jack Hayter will be opening for David Tattersall (Wave Pictures) with Dan of Green Gables (of Darren Hayman's Secondary Modern) and Milkwood. The Brixton Windmill, £7 on the door.

Facebook Invite

Secondly, Fighting Kites opens for Japan's Vampillia, Ruins and Liberez at Cafe Oto in Dalston. £8 on the door.

Facebook invite

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

TLOBF Album Stream: Benjamin Shaw - "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet"

2011-11-18T20:46:00.003Z

Moment of truth.

Benjamin Shaw's debut LP "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" is up for streaming on The Line Of Best Fit.

Album Stream on TLOBF

It won't be for everyone...but to us it's a dream and something we've been working towards for two years now. I hope you enjoy it...and that you buy it. Twice.

Pre-order: Bandcamp / Amazon / iTunes / Rough Trade

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

DIS Stream: Benjamin Shaw - "How to Test the Depth of a Well"

2011-11-15T22:48:00.003Z

Benjamin Shaw debuts the leading track from his upcoming "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" on the mighty Drowned in Sound.

Visit DIS HERE to hear the song and then head to the forum to discuss the beast - JAG.

We're launching the album in style with a free show on November 25th at The Miller, London Bridge with live sets from Benjamin Shaw Band and a ton of other acts from the roster/DJ sets, etc - FACEBOOK INFO

The album is up for pre-order on Bandcamp nowwwww:

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/theres-always-hope-theres-always-cabernet">There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet by Benjamin Shaw</a>
We are choking on our own successes right now.

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

LOOK AT ME, I OWN RECORDS! #10 - Hamish Rankine

2011-11-01T20:48:00.009Z

PART 10 IN THE 'LOOK AT ME, I OWN RECORDS!' SAGA

Hello! I’m Hamish. I’m 21 and I do university in Exeter but I just did a year living just outside Madrid. I’ve been a ‘fan of music’ (i.e., finding my own) since I was maybe 11. I first came across Audio Antihero when I downloaded Nosferatu D2’s ‘It’s Christmas Time (For God’s Sake)’ for free two Christmases ago.

I’ve been meaning to do one of these for a while now, and now, after over a month of doing nothing in Somerset, I’ve finally found the time.

First Record

Warning by Green Day

I did love Green Day a lot. And Warning had some fantastic songs on it. It all went downhill with American Idiot, as everyone says. I won’t go into why that is, as it’s pretty common knowledge. So I choose to remember them by Warning.

Most Expensive Record(s)

In Rainbows and The King of Limbs by Radiohead

I paid £2.50 for the pay-what-you want download of In Rainbows, but then I got a weekend job for a month or so, so with my newfound wealth, I splashed out £40 on the discbox version. No regrets at all. I love the album, and the whole package was 100% worth it.

Then, when The King of Limbs was announced, because I still had quite a lot of money left from my Erasmus grant (which was meant to help alleviate the expensiveness of living in Spain), I decided again to go for the (£30) special edition. Again, totally worth it. Also, on the day that the album was released in record shops, I was in Madrid, so I popped into Espacio Ufi, where they were giving out copies of the Universal Sigh newspaper, which is translated into Spanish.

The Record That Got Me into Real Music

OK Computer by Radiohead

I know a lot of people go on about how great OK Computer is, but they’ve good reason to do so. I bought it for £4.97 in Woolworth’s back in 2005 or 2006 after it was voted the Best Album Ever in Q magazine. On the first listen I didn’t understand it at all, and didn’t like it, but the second time ‘round, it hit me, and I’ve been obsessed with Radiohead ever since (see the whole ‘spending-£70-on-two-records’ thing above). It also made me realise the joys of more complex music (until then, The Libertines had been my musical deities).

Obligatory Audio Antihero Records

We’re Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise by Nosferatu D2, Sucky Tart by Jack Hayter and I Got The Pox, The Pox Is What I Got by Benjamin Shaw

I’m not simply including these from a sense of duty to AAH, I do genuinely love these records (although I still need to properly listen to Mr. Shaw’s record).

I first started talking to Jamie over Twitter after mentioning how my timing of buying Nosferatu D2’s album may not have been ideal (in short, the weekend that I bought it, I knew I was going to be rather down, as the girl with whom I was/am in love with’s boyfriend was visiting, and as great as the band are, their songs, for the most part, aren’t terribly uplifting). However, I survived the bad timing, and grew to love the album.

I discovered the other artists purely through Jamie’s tweeting about them, for which I’m eternally grateful! (Also, on a side note, the Nosferatu D2 album recently had its negative romantic associations with said girl reaffirmed, as I had to use it to drown out amorous sounds of her and her boyf when I went to visit her. Not fun. Still a great album though!)

(Editor/Profiteer's note: all these fine records are available from Bandcamp)

Most Personal

There Are Listed Buildings 7” by Los Campesinos!

I went to see Los Campesinos! in Exeter back in 2009, and after the show I got talking to Gareth. I wanted to talk to him because a) he’s one of my favourite lyricists, and b) a friend of mine had told me he went to a school just down the road from me. It turns out that, at the time, he still lived in the same town, about ten minutes from my house, so we talked about the pros and cons (mainly cons) of Somerset living, then he signed my single “Hamish, cheers dude, keep it ‘Compton [the village where I live is called Chilcompton], love Gareth x”

Best Support Act-Turned-Favourite-Singer

Tear Jerky by Sparky Deathcap

I saw Sparky Deathcap supporting Los Campesinos! in Exeter (the time I talked to Gareth), and his songs instantly clicked for me. I (almost) instantly went home and bought his EP, and never looked back. It just feels like something special every time I listen to it, like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I’d happily injure several people in order to be able to write lyrics and music as good as his. Not to mention the artwork. The EP came with a small fanzine of cartoons done by Rob (Sparky Deathcap) himself, which are genuinely hilarious (you can see them on his website: http://www.tearjerky.co.uk/)

Best Artwork/Overall Packaging etc.

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed by Los Campesinos!

This album helped me through first year of university when I was a bit of a grumpy/miserable prick (not that I’ve stopped being like that!)

The whole deal of the album is grand as well; the actual album, a poster, a booklet of lyrics and contributions by their (famous/arty) friends, and two badges (which I sadly lost. I had them on a denim jacket, which I wore on a night out in Madrid. My friend insisted that I needn’t put it in the cloakroom, so I put it in her bag, and it was lost between getting in and getting to the bar. I also lost all but one of my AAH badges that night. I still have my Nosferatu D2 album cover badge though.)

An Album with My Name in It!

The Bachelor by Patrick Wolf

I don’t know if you know about this album, but basically he funded it my asking fans for donations. I contributed, and thus got my name in the list of people! Which is exciting. It’s also signed, and thus adds to my list of signed records. I first listened to Patrick Wolf when an ex-girlfriend lent me her sister’s copy of Wind In The Wires, after which I was quite hooked. I somehow managed to find a copy of The Magic Position in Woolworth’s as well, which I was pretty chuffed about.

Artist I won’t stop banging on about

Yann Tiersen

Seriously, I just won’t shut up about how great he is. Put me near a speaker system, and I’ll put his new album on, even at my brother’s house, hanging out with his psytrance loving friends and The Teknoist (who is apparently a world famous breakcore producer). I just think everyone needs to hear it. I, like most people I’d imagine, first encountered his work as part of the soundtrack for Amélie. After seeing him live, which was a slightly odd and disappointing experience, I got into even more of his work, and now I just can’t stop listening to it. His new album, Dust Lane, in particular seems to be addictive. In contrast to his earlier work, which is a blend of classical and folk, the new songs build up layers of acoustic and electronic instruments, along with choirs, to create beautiful soundscapes. Christ, this sections gone all un-eloquent, but I can’t help gushing when I’m talking about how great it all is. In conclusion: go and download or get the CD of Dust Lane. You won’t regret it. And then get this record (Le phare).

if you'd like to contribute contact us at infoATaudioantihero.com or go to www.audioantihero.com

HALLOWEEN MIX: THE CURSE OF AUDIO ANTIHERO

2011-10-30T15:56:00.007Z

The Night We Came Home.

Halloween: The Curse of Audio Antihero by Audio Antihero on Mixcloud

Songs of terror and clips of the damned. Mixed like a Witches cauldron. Alternative Halloween anthems for your judgment day.

"Johnny" by Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences is taken from Audio Antihero Records EP "The Wrong Life" which is available from www.audioantihero.bandcamp.com

1. What lovely music for a murder...(clip from The Abominable Dr.Phibes)

2. Extradition Order - Islington Creeper

3. Misfits - Return Of The Fly

4. Hefner - The Sad Witch

5. Rob Zombie - House of 1000 Corpses

6. An excellent day for an Exorcism (clip from The Exorcist)

7. Lovage - Archie & Veronica

8. Donovan - The Season Of The Witch

9. The Fiends - Demonomania

10. John Ryder explains (clip from The Hitcher)

11. AFI - Halloween

12. The Outdoor Types - The Murderer

13. Bruce Springsteen - A Night With The Jersey Devil

14. Some kind of a record...(clip from The Thing)

15. The Ramones - Pet Sematary

16. Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences - Johnny

17. Fantomas - Rosemary's Baby

18. Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name

19. The Ultimate Experience In Grueling Terror (clip from Evil Dead)

Last year's Halloween mix is available to stream HERE.

I'll be right back,
Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in walking into dead ends whilst being stalked by knife wielding maniacs
www.audioantihero.com

BROKEN SHOULDER TAKES JAPAN

2011-10-27T22:05:00.008+01:00

BROKEN SHOULDER AT THE DOOR! AND HE'S COMING FOR JAPAN.

Hot on the heels of the release of his fabulous split release (available now) with Fighting Kites (with whom he also makes up a fourth of), Broken Shoulder answered some faintly obnoxious questions for me and also announced his Tokyo tour dates (both of them).

BROKEN SHOULDER'S TOKYO TOUR:

Nanahari on November 6th

Gallery Commune Shimokitazawa on the 10th.

MORE INFORMATION - BS' TUMBLR

The Miller (London return) on November 25th with Fighting Kites, Benjamin Shaw and Jack Hayter for Benjamin Shaw's album launch and Audio Antihero's 2nd birthday.

NOW SOME INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

You shouldn’t be new to Audio Antihero’s many fans and followers but people are forgetful…so remind them who you are and why you’re doing this to yourself.

I am Neil, I am one quarter of Fighting Kites and four quarters of Broken Shoulder. I throw a lot of musical guff into my computer and then go back and pick out the good bits and repeat them for 6 or 7 minutes. I did an album on Audio Antihero called Broken Shoulderrr, and now I am doing this split with Fighting Kites.

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/fighting-kites-broken-shoulder-split-ep">Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder - Split EP by Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder</a>

I don’t really like the music you like or are inspired by but I do like you and the music you make. How do you explain that?

Seems I am not so good at making things obnoxious sounding. It is a source of constant frustration for me. I will keep trying. Also, I think it is dangerous to follow any particular influence too far. You have to put something of your own in there, even if that is just ripping off two disparate elements and smashing them together. All in the interpretation I guess.

You’re a founding member of the mighty Fighting Kites and Broken Shoulder was a more recent spin-off to the band. Can you explain the origin of the project and the differences in process and outcome?

When the shoulder was broken, Fighting Kites were supposed to be playing to back our friend and talented author Stuart Evers at a reading of one of his short stories. No shoulder meant no guitar, so I started keyboard droning instead with a few delay and distortion pedals. I liked doing that so much that I carried on after the recovery of the shoulder and something just evolved from my front room recordings. It wasn't a conscious decision to start a solo project, but it all seemed to fall into place quite quickly.

Broken Shoulder is the 100% manifestation of my ego in the musical format. That's why there are lots of drones and some borderline guitar solos. In Fighting Kites it is a democracy, so sometimes I get outvoted and my ego is suppressed. There are definitely benefits to both ways of working. The song writing streamlining process we go through in FK means that we end up with an extreme distillation of extended jamming into 3 minute songs. With BS it is almost the opposite. A small idea grows and expands and it normally is all done very quickly. Guess it is like looking through different ends of a telescope. In FK we are polishing the telescope and looking through one end. BS is turning the telescope round and accidentally putting a massive thumbprint smudge on the lens, but then deciding I quite like it blurry.

Do you think that when I give you my flatmate’s 80s sampler it could end everything for Fighting Kites? You’ll be too self-sufficient?

I am very excited about getting my hands on that. Seems that so far due to my relative lack of technical musical knowledge I have been misusing equipment. I look forward to trying to work out how to use the sampler and failing and something weird happening. BS and FK are too different to affect each other too much.

Although I seem to remember that when we played together last time I was so wound up with getting the Broken Shoulder debut live performance done that afterwards I had to be reminded how my FK guitar bits went. This time for the split launch, we are going to put another act in between, so I can calm down a bit and hopefully avoid a calamity.

Luke’s a bit of a pretty boy, there’s no escaping that fact. Do you think this has held Fighting Kites back at all? His dainty features costing you credibility and respect on the grueling live circuit? Is that why you went solo?

I think that I have held us back with my refusal/inability to grow a beard like the rest of them. I could do a mean moustache, but don't think that would help us much. Although in some areas of East London I believe the moustache is still popular.

There’s a marked difference between the material on “BROKEN SHOULDERRR” and “Split”. What changed? Did something within you just snap?

Broken Shoulderrr was all about having a go on all the equipment I could find at home. I can't really remember how the songs seemed to come together as listening back to it now it seems a lot more plotted that I remember it being.

I think maybe these tunes were just waiting to come out. The split was built around Shark Island. I was in the FK rehearsal studio before a practice recording the session BS did for WVUM and had a bit of spare time. I ended up recording a 35 minute beast of guitar and keyboard loops. Shark Island is the last 10 minutes or so of this monster piece, with a few overdubs added at home. The other 25 minutes is waiting for the right time to rear its head. The other two songs on Split were recorded at home to balance Shark Island. I love Shark Island's wobbliness, so I think I will give that way of recording another go soon.

Has “Split” come out as you wanted? Despite the contrasting styles and your best efforts to send the record into a dark abyss of LO-TRON…it’s come out as a rounded, whole and beautiful album. What did you first envision?

It does work pretty well I think. Although the BS half was done before the FK half, I knew what we were going to record but couldn't really say that I deliberately recorded in a way to make it work as a whole. That was a lucky coincidence. Seems that people are quite liking the FK half and I would like to think that they will like the BS half too. Still, it's good that the BS tracks are at the end, so people don't immediately get put off. Something for all the family on this Split, even the weird uncle.

What’s next for Broken Shoulder? Recordings, live happenings, allegations of misogyny?

Recording-wise, I did a 20 minute track called Oak & Mirrors for a Dandelion Radio session. The middle bit of this song is my love letter to the first Tortoise album, and I like the whole thing so much that I am going to record a new (mini) album round it. Just need to find time to put the bread on the Oak & Mirrors sandwich, but am hoping to do that soon. Live happenings include a a set at the Benjamin Shaw album launch at the Miller on the 25th November and opening for Ruins and Vampillia at Cafe OTO on December 2nd. In between these two, I will be playing a couple of shows in Tokyo. Right now I am going to make a video for Shark Island, I think. And have some nice beers. No misogyny necessary.

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/broken-shoulderrr">Broken Shoulderrr by Broken Shoulder</a>

Share your wealth of knowledge and experience and give your tips on the Audio Antihero roster. Who do we like?

I am a longtime admirer, friend and colleague (two different work places now!) of Benjamin Shaw and his upcoming album is something very special indeed. Wartgore are legends of course, a band you have to see live, and I was delighted to finally see Jack Hayter play when he stepped in at the last minute to save our FK gig last week. Thanks Jack!

Have you any wise words for these unwise times?

My advice is don't listen to me. I am making it up as I go along. I could give beer advice if you want though.

Thanks Neil!

HIRED GUN RADIO: Fighting Kites!

2011-10-24T18:27:00.005+01:00

Fighting Kites who recently released a fabulous split on Audio Antihero with Broken Shoulder (available HERE) have put together an edition of 'Hired Gun Radio' for us. A fine mix of weird, wonderful and wordless as chosen by the band. You can see Fighting Kites live with Broken Shoulder, Benjamin Shaw and Jack Hayter on November 25th at The Miller for AAH's Birthday Party and Benjamin Shaw's album launch - information HERE.

Hired Gun Radio: Fighting Kites' "Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time" mix by Audio Antihero on Mixcloud

Fighting Kites: Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

1. Evan Parker With Birds - (2) (from For Steve Lacy)
DAN SAYS: As it says on the tin: Evan Parker improvising to field recordings of birds (and other things). Very beautiful. Probably the most extraordinary saxophonist on the planet, and he plays in London every month. We are lucky people.

2. Benjamin Shaw - She Loves a Tory (from Rumfucker)
NEIL SAYS: All his stuff is great, but I thought I would include something of the criminally underrated Rumfucker album. Definitely shows a different side. Think the new album There's Always Hope There's Always Cabernet is the perfect blend of I Got The Pox…'s guitar and vocal, and Rumfucker's electronic rumfuckery.

3. Keith Fullerton Whitman - Lisbon (from Lisbon)
DAN SAYS: This album, which I think may have been recorded live in Lisbon, is my favourite thing of KFW's. And I really, really like KFW, so that's saying a lot. Neil and I saw him play in London the other day: half an hour of analogue greatness. Nice beard too.

4. Oren Ambarchi - Girl With The Silver Eyes (from Grapes From The Estate)
DAN SAYS: When you go to see Oren Ambarchi play, he does things with his guitar that make your whole body vibrate. This is officially a Good Thing. This song is quite gentle by contrast, pretty even, but none the worse for it.

5. Tim Hecker - I'm Transmitting Tonight (from Radio Amor)
NEIL SAYS: I like Tim Hecker. Big synths wobbling all over the place. Sadly I have nothing interesting to say about this song, apart from that I like it a lot.

6. Steve Reich & Musicians - Drumming (Part IV) (from Phases)
DAN SAYS: Nine percussionists and three singers playing ever so slightly changing patterns based on a single repeated rhythm for about an hour, to magical effect. You don't need me to tell you how great this is, but I will say that the Phases boxset is a bargain.

7. Soft Machine – Facelift (from Third)
LUKE SAYS: I listened to this track solidly for about 3 years from the ages of 8-11. At bedtime the sound of my next-door neighbour’s old creaky floorboards merged perfectly with the music - who knows how many dreams this has been the soundtrack to?

8. Plank - La Luna (from Plank! EP)
DAVE SAYS: Bass like telephone cables twanging in a gale. Named after the MOGO (music of German origin) über-producer Conny Plank, as any fule kno.

9. James Brown and the Famous Flames - Instrumental Bridge 3 (from Live At
The Apollo)
DAVE SAYS: JB demanded that the Famous Flames were on hand to play this break every time he entered a room.

10. Shogun Kunitoki - Riddarholmen (from Vinonaamakasio)
NEIL SAYS: I remember us having a band night out to see Shogun Kunitoki play. The synths are cracking. It's a bit Kraut too. Maybe it is time for me to put the guitar down and for us to have a double synth attack. And they are Finnish with a Japanese name, which is a pretty excellent combination.

11. P.M. Pocket Music - Nang Nak (from P.M. Pocket Music)
NEIL SAYS: The organ is way too loud, but that's part of the charm for me. Almost painful at times. Cracking tune though. This tune shows the reason Thai Shadow music is such a big influence on Fighting Kites. The reason being, because it is amazing.

12. Jean Claude Vannier - L'Enfant la Mouche et les Allumettes (from
L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches)
DAVE SAYS: In which our hero, the child fly-killer, sets fire to some flies, little knowing the awful retribution that will follow. I met him once at the Barbican and he seemed a nice enough chap.

13. Electrelane - Eight Steps (from Axes)
DAVE SAYS Instrumental group noted for their vocals. "Inspiring" - Luke Kite.

14. Fighting Kites – Chuck Close (from Fighting Kites [forthcoming on
Variant Records])
LUKE SAYS: Back in the days when I was just another face in the crowd at a Fighting Kites gig, I remember being struck by how much they reminded me of The Shadows. Chuck Close was the first track I ever saw them play live and I still feel Hank Marvin’s presence every time I hear it.

15. A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble - Vajdaszentivány
(from A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble)
DAVE SAYS: Balázs Unger attacks his cimbalom in a blur of hammers. A Hawk and A Hacksaw scarper til the dust settles. / Man vs Cimbalom. AHAAH!

16. Bert Jansch - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (from Jack Orion)
DAN SAYS: Bert Jansch died recently. I don't go in much for mourning people you've never met, but I am very sad that Bert Jansch won't be making any more records and that no one will get to hear him (or Pentangle) play again.

17. Broken Shoulder – Stille Nacht (from Broken Shoulderrr)
LUKE SAYS: There is no question that in the dizzy world of the Vietnamese Mouth Organ, Neil Debnam is Lord. And this track shows us why. Listening to it makes me feel like I have a cloud in my head. Fingers crossed I get to hear it at a live show soon!

For more information on the Split, upcoming gigs and their debut LP visit - www.fightingkites.wordpress.com / www.brokenshoulder.tumblr.com

Audio Antihero is two years old.

2011-10-16T17:10:00.006+01:00

Showing.Our.Age.Man.

As of yesterday, Audio Antihero is 2 years old.

Two whole years of 'FUCK.THIS.SHIT' - I was 22 back then. I'm hideous now.

We're due to celehate the whole endless ordeal with a fabulous birthday party gig that doubles up with the launch party for the new BENJAMIN SHAW album 'There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet'. (pre-order now on CD for £5.49 from Bandcamp plus iTunes/Amazon/Play).

November 25th. The Miller, London Bridge. 7pm. FREE ENTRY.

FACEBOOK INVITE: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160401260719953 / SONGKICK

LIVE:

FIGHTING KITES

BENJAMIN SHAW BAND

JACK HAYTER BAND

BROKEN SHOULDER

DJ:

BEN PARKER (NOSFERATU D2 / SUPERMAN REVENGE SQUAD)

PAUL HAWKINS (THE AWKWARD SILENCES)

DANIEL RUNCIMAN (STROKE YOUR BEARD)

I'm very proud to be putting out Benjamin Shaw's debut album. It's truly very special. Even when we flung his first EP out into an unreceptive world in 2009 I doubt either of us could imagine we'd be dealing with an LP quite as special as this. But we are. So kudos to us.

You can hear the first single from the record here:

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/somewhere-over-the-m6-2">Somewhere Over the M6 by Benjamin Shaw</a>

Thanks for all your support,

Jamie Halliday - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide since 2009

www.audioantihero.com

FIGHTING KITES & BROKEN SHOULDER - 'Split' - OUT NOW

2011-10-10T19:16:00.006+01:00

10/10/2011

FIGHTING KITES & BROKEN SHOULDER "SPLIT" - OUT NOW

ORDER:
BANDCAMP / ITUNES / PLAY / AMAZON / ITUNES/ JUNO / HMV / ROUGH TRADE

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/fighting-kites-broken-shoulder-split-ep">Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder - Split EP by Fighting Kites / Broken Shoulder</a>

The final part in our '2011 Commercial Suicide EP Series' comes in the form of a split from Fighting Kites & Broken Shoulder. It is delicious.

Fighting Kites are a glorious post-rock-noise-pop band who've played with Male Bonding, Shield Your Eyes, Ruins, Benjamin Shaw, Wartgore Hellsnicker, Shoes & Socks Off, Jack Hayter and Nisennenmondai. They do right where others do wrong. They are instrumental superheroes.

Broken Shoulder returns to the Audio Antihero stable with an even darker set of LO-TRON recordings. With press and praise in The 405 and star grazing sessions for Resonance FM, Dandelion Radio and WVUM, BroSho has made quite a name for himself in this made-up
scene.

"Rather delightful." - Gideon Coe, BBC 6 Music

"The sound of the summer but at a sub-atomic leve." - Right Where You Are Sitting Now

“This split is an intriguing mix of light and dark from some rather exciting
new British acts – 8/10.” - The Music Fix

Free Track: Download a free track from each artist via Bandcamp

The split EP will be launched at Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington on October 22nd - MORE INFO

Fun fact: This EP was mastered by our golden boy Benjamin Shaw, who's debut LP will be out on Audio Antihero come November 21st. Pre-Order now: BANDCAMP / AMAZON / ITUNES

Benjamin Shaw: HI54LOFI European Tour

2011-10-03T18:49:00.002+01:00

TOPS OF THE POP.

Benjamin Shaw and The HI54LOFI collective have taken their show on the road and released this free sampler to HEAT THE HYPE.

<a href="http://hi54lofirecords.bandcamp.com/track/kick-the-dog">Kick The Dog by Benjamin Shaw</a>

The HI54LOFI collective are four individual singer/songwriters from across the land(s). They are Benjamin Shaw (England), You Be A Hooker I'll Be Charlie Sheen , A Singer Of Songs and coffee&wine. All of these artists can be heard on the bandcamp mixtape.

The idea of the tour is to get the four songwriters together for the first time to play as a group, a mopey big band if you will, pulling songs from their individual catalogues. 'No more loneliness for the singer songwriter' says the HI54LOFI mastermind.

The remaining dates on the tour are as follows:

Tuesday, October 4

Espace B

Paris, France

20:30 PM, 5€

http://www.songkick.com/concerts/10399343-a-singer-of-songs-at-espace-b

Wednesday, October 5

Live Music Cafe

Brussels, Belgium

Free entry, we're on from 22:00 - 23:00

http://www.songkick.com/concerts/10411428-benjamin-shaw-at-live-music-cafe

Thursday, October 6

The Hideaway

London, UK

Doors at 19:00, music at 20:00. £3

http://www.songkick.com/concerts/9932598-benjamin-shaw-at-hideaway

Friday, October 7

De Machinist

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Doors at 20:00, 5€

http://www.songkick.com/concerts/10388353-a-singer-of-songs-at-de-machinist

The Facebook invite can be found HERE.

I'll of course be along to the October 6th gig to see what all the puss is about. A lovely evening at The Hideaway from my favourite promoters STROKE YOUR BEARD.

Benjamin Shaw's "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" is out November 21st and available for pre-order now from Bandcamp (CD), iTunes (DL), Amazon (CD) and Play (DL).

See you in the pit,

Jamie - Audio Antihero Records: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

New Music Videos: Broken Shoulder & Fighting Kites

2011-09-24T14:25:00.004+01:00

Here is what I present to you, two charming new music videos from Audio Antihero's instrumental favoured cash-cows. DAMN RIGHT, it's Fighting Kites! OH FEEL IT SMOULDER, it's Broken Shoulder!

Taken from "Split"

Taken from "Broken Shoulderrr"

Fighting Kites and Broken Shoulder's "Split" is available from October 10th on Audio Antihero Records for £3.49 on CD or £1.89 as a Download. Pre-Order now from Bandcamp.

Thanks, man.

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Benjamin Shaw - European live dates

2011-09-18T18:50:00.008+01:00

**FOR CURRENT LIVE DATES VISIT - SONGKICK**

On his new-found lifelong mission that is recouping his upcoming debut album, our miserable dancing bear (Benjamin Shaw) is going off on a small European tour as a part of theHI54LOFI collective along with A Singer Of Songs, Coffee&Wine and Dress Up Like A Hooker, I'll Be Charlie Sheen. October 19th is a solo show, a homecoming if you will.

Live Dates:

September 30th: Fotomation, Madrid, Spain

October 2nd: Niu, Barcelona, Spain

October 4th: Espace B, Paris, France

ctober 5th: Live Music Cafe, Brussels, Belgium

October 6th: The Hideaway (Archway), London, England

October 7th: De Machinist, Rotterdam, Netherlands

October 19th: The Monarch (Camden), London, England

Benjamin Shaw's debut album is entitled "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet" and is out November 21st. Available now for for pre-order for £5.49 inc. postage (UK only) - www.audioantihero.bandcamp.com

You can stream the leading single from this album below:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-over-the-m6-single"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Somewhere Over the M6 (single) by Benjamin Shaw&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

FREE MP3 & Gig: Jack Hayter tribute to Phil Ochs

2011-09-18T12:41:00.004+01:00

Our man, Jack Hayter, will be playing at the Phil Ochs tribute night on September 21st at the 12 Bar, London.

As an appetiser, the pedal-steel machine has recorded a cover of "I've Had Her" by the late Mr Ochs.

Ive Had Her [phil ochs cover] by jack hayter

Enjoy and I hope to see some of you there (if my flu subsides).

Stay punk,

Jamie

www.audioantihero.bandcamp.com

Benjamin Shaw's PR Queen, Stacey Walton's sponsored run

2011-08-30T15:39:00.005+01:00

Now that Benjamin Shaw is a megastar with songs on the internet radio and reviews on the internet magazines we've decided to hire him PR. We scored Stacey Walton of The Art Of..., the agency behind the likes of Los Campesinos!, Yuck, Mogwai, Copy Haho, Go! Team, Sparky Deathcab, Gruff Rhys, Perfume Genius, yadda yadda (sorry guys, I hope you won't mind taking the backseat just this once...but Ben's a rocking machine).

Anyway, when she isn't making AAH filthy rich, she's running for charity. Particularly the Nicola Murray Foundation for ovarian cancer, for which she has a sponsored run on the 4th of September. As a wee Scot, long distance running isn't necessarily her speciality...but she's gone to war on this and will doubtlessly prevail.

You can and should donate a little or a lot to her JustGiving page:

http://www.justgiving.com/Stacey-Walton

Do something good. Even I donated a bit and I'm a total dick.

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Loveliest thing to happen since starting this crummy record label

2011-08-13T16:50:00.005+01:00

Between losing money, selling no records, getting ignored by every DJ and writer EVER and generally having to be nice to people like Benjamin Shaw...there's also VERY VERY VERY VERY lovely things that happen. This is one of them...

Recently I received a parcel in the post from Wonderwoman (aka Joy) containing this:

A handmade Nosferatu D2 tote bag just for me! And what does that little note say I hear you ask? It says:

"Jamie, thanks for having a proper good record label :)"

Isn't that the nicest thing in the world?

The bag's a pretty incredible reproduction of David Broadbent's design and the detail on the belt buckle and walkman brings a huge smile to my face.

Given that this stupid label was started around Nosferatu D2 in October 2009, it's truly quite heartening and touching that the record still means enough people to spend time and imagination on it. The 2011 EP series, despite being something I'm very proud of, hasn't generated a lot of sales, even by AAH standards - but I'm learning this year to take pleasure from how much any one Audio Antihero record can mean to any one fan, rather than how many people I can convince to put down their £3.49.

Of course I hope one day I can sell a few more copies of things, not even in the profit range, just enough for my hugely deserving roster to get a little credit (and I want chicks and glory...and to quit my job)...but in the meantime, I'm just delighted that here and there I've made a few folk happy and they've more than returned the favour.

Thanks folks, thanks Joy.

Rumour has it that I might meet Joy at our Audio Antihero's 2nd Birthday Gig/Benjamin Shaw's album launch on November 25th and if so, she's going to get such a hug/high-five (whichever she'd prefer).

I leave you with Nosferatu D2' "we're gonna walk around this city with our headphones on to block out the noise" (AAH001)

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/were-gonna-walk-around-this-city-with-our-headphones-on-to-block-out-the-noise">We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise by Nosferatu D2</a>

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

P.S this isn't realllyyyy a thinly veiled request for you guys to do more nice things for me but do feel free!

Hawkwind Duvall's "Album Of The Week" - Runaround Kids

2011-08-11T19:57:00.003+01:00

Don't call it a comeback!

It's me! The cacti with the black tie and Audio Antihero Vice President (and Operations Manager) Mr. Hawkind Duvall!

My very own Album Of The Week is: Runaround Kids - Linked Arms (Philophobia, 2011)

These guys are from Wakefield, I don't know where that is but Jamie tells me "it might as well be a fucking desert" so I reckon we'd get on. This sounds a bit like all those girly boo-hoo records Jamie likes so much (Get Up Kids, Johnny Foreigner, Los Campesinos!, Neil Diamond, etc) but younger, louder and catchier.

I'm down with it.

They're sentimental little tykes though...seriously guys, 'WE DON'T LOVE THESE HOES'.

<a href="http://runaroundkids.bandcamp.com/album/linked-arms">Linked Arms by Runaround Kids</a>

8/10

Here's a video of them playing with a dog:

PAUL HAWKINS & THE AWKWARD SILENCES' "THE WRONG LIFE" EP - Out Now!

2011-07-31T15:29:00.004+01:00

WHATTUP FOOLS! MORE RECORDS! LESS SALES!

Another foolhardy new release from us in our '2011 Commercial Suicide EP Series'. This time the monsters in question are PAUL HAWKINS & THE AWKWARD SILENCES' anti-folk/post-punk/outsider-pop superstars! They return at last with this 5 track EP of Twisted Americana, Sinisiter Pop, Sardonic AOR and Zombie Balladry. Cover art by Audio Antihero Recording artist Benjamin Shaw.

"Underground legend." - Artrocker

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrong-life">The Wrong Life by Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences</a>
Free track available: "Gomorrah".

"The Wrong Life" EP is available now from Bandcamp, iTunes, Rough Trade, Amazon and Jezus Factory.

Paul (THE HAWK) was interviewed by CLASH MUSIC which you can read HERE and also wrote a 'Track By Track' feature for The 405 which you can see HERE.

BUY IT SO WE FEEL VALIDATED AND RELEVANT TO THE PEOPLE.

HIRED GUN RADIO - Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences

2011-07-30T13:11:00.003+01:00

We are mere hours (admittedly 48 or so) until the release of the new EP from Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences. You can pre-order 'The Wrong Life EP' here on Bandcamp (on find it on Amazon, Play, Rough Trade, Jezus Factory, etc).

Frontman, Paul Hawkins, THE HAWK, has put together a mix of his own choosing for our HIRED GUN RADIO series. Click below to hear the beast and scroll ever further down to hear about the choices and how they came to be a part of the great man's life and strife.

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences' "Hired Gun Radio" by Audio Antihero on Mixcloud

Albino – Quorn

The title refers to a place in Australia rather than the vegetarian foodstuff and the song’s basically a travelogue of a couple on holiday undermined by the fact their relationship is falling apart. Ben Tucker’s one of my favourite songwriters and I really, really like how subtle this song is.

Nick Cave – Fire Down Below

Whilst on the other hand, I’m drawn to this because it’s not subtle at all. This is Nick Cave’s expletive-strewn cover of a 19th century sea shanty. The “Fire Down Below” of the title refers to the engine room of a ship, Hell itself, sexual frustration and, of course, sexually transmitted disease.

Jake Thackray – The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray

It absolutely astonishes me that Thackray wrote this when he was younger than I am now- I just don’t understand how someone pulls a song like this off in their mid-twenties. Written in the 1960s it’s a bit dated now but I really like the sentiment. I think it’s the song I want played at my funeral.

Mansun – I Can Only Disappoint U

This is very much a childhood nostalgia thing – it’s an amazing song though. I was never a huge Mansun fan but I remember hearing this for the first time (on a PA system in my local Woolworths of all places!) and being absolutely blown away by it.

The Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive Her?

I put this on here simply because it’s a great pop song. I really like the moral ambiguity of it too though – basically both the guy and the girl are, in their own way, victims of circumstances beyond their control.

Babybird – Take Me Back

It’s frustrating that Babybird are remembered for “You’re Gorgeous”, a song that was widely perceived as novelty Britpop wedding fodder, as Stephen Jones is an incredible songwriter. This is one of the most brutal and chilling songs I’ve ever heard – he’s tackling subject matter most people would shy away from and I think it’s a Hell of a feat to pull off a song like this without crossing into sensationalism or exploitation.

David Cronenberg’s Wife – You Should’ve Closed the Curtains

One of the things I like about Tom Mayne from DCW’s writing style is that he doesn’t feel the need to portray himself as the good guy in songs and that means he comes up with some really interesting and unsettling things. This is from the band’s second album “Hypnogogues” and I think it’s one of their finest moments.

Gorky’s Zygotic Mynchi – Spanish Dance Troupe

This is another song I loved in my teens – it’s basically four minutes of, on the surface, quite beautiful throwaway silliness but with a sense of something much sadder lying beneath the surface. The bit where they sing “then we’ll be married, then we’ll be happy” really gets to me.

Momus – The Cabriolet

Momus is someone who passed me by when I was younger but in the last year I’ve really got into his Creation-era albums, all of which are downloadable for free from his website www.imomus.com. Picking a song is very tricky due the sheer volume and range of what he’s done but I do think this is incredibly written and manages to make an entirely unpalatable concept sound incredibly beautiful.

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences – Johnny

This is, of course, us and from our new EP. It’s one of our live favourites at the moment and is based on an urban myth I heard as a child. I couldn’t find a good version of the story online so I did my own. At the time I wrote it I was staying in Edinburgh and getting really immersed in the various ghost stories of the city, which I think is probably something that really comes out in the song. (Stream in full: http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/track/johnny)

Hefner – Anne & Bill

Along with Suede and Belle & Sebastian, Hefner were my favourite band of my formative years so I really wanted to include them here. It’s feels slightly annoyingly indie to choose a really obscure song, especially as there’s not many “obvious” Hefner songs, but I genuinely think this is one of their finest moments and, as it wasn’t on any of the albums except the “Catfight” rarities compilation even a lot of Hefner fans may not know it.

There’s three things I really love about this – first off a budding relationship between two near-pensioners isn’t something you get many songs about.; secondly I love how the music builds whilst it feels like nothing happens at all; and thirdly I think the whole concept of the empty box in the first half of the chorus is excellent. I really do rate this song and think it’s a fine one to end with..

Freaky Features: PAUL HAWKINS & THE AWKWARD SILENCES / NOSFERATU D2 / BENJAMIN SHAW

2011-07-28T17:07:00.004+01:00

Had some pretty exciting press! THINGS TO HEAR! THINGS TO READ! THINGS TO DOWNLOAD! THINGS TO BUY! THINGS TO GIVE YOUR SOUL TO.

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences advance EP Stream on The 405

The new EP Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences is now available for streaming exclusively on The 405 in advance of its release date. The stream is accompanied by a Track By Track analysis written by Paul.

Paul Hawkins EP Stream & Track by Track Feature

Nosferatu D2 'Formation/Split' Anniversary for GIITTV

Ben Parker of Nosferatu D2 (and Superman Revenge Squad/Tempertwig/Jonbarr Hinge) wrote an album analysis of their one and only record for God Is In The TV.

Nosferatu D2's GIITTV Album Feature

Benjamin Shaw 'Song Of The Day' on TLOBF & Whiteboard Music

Benjamin Shaw's 'hit' is "When I Fell Over In The City" and while it isn't his best or most adventurous song, we are milking his only pop song while we still can in the lead up to his upcoming debut LP "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet".

The song is being given away by a ton of sites at the moment but has also been named the 'track of the day' by big-time bad-boys The White Board Project and The Line Of Best Fit. Pop along to either of those for your free download.

You can see the grisly music video for the song and it's sequel "The Carpeteer" below. Both are taken from his debut EP "I Got the Pox, the Pox is what I Got".

When I Fell Over in the City - Benjamin Shaw from Antiherovideo on Vimeo.

The Carpeteer - Benjamin Shaw from Antiherovideo on Vimeo.

All of the above records are available pretty cheaply as CD or Downloads on Bandcamp

Buy Buy Buy!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Paul Hawkins interview in CLASH

2011-07-27T19:55:00.003+01:00

Paul Hawkins skips on the awkward silences when he speaks with CLASH about the upcoming EP "The Wrong Life", his involvement in the anti-folk scene and the future of The Awkward Silences and his good self.

READ ON...

Click here for the Interview

"The Wrong Life" is the new EP from Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences and is available for pre-order now, out on Monday: CD & D/L

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Look At Me, I Own MP3s! - Paul Hawkins

2011-07-22T18:57:00.005+01:00

Paul Hawkins of Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences is a contrary beast and is following the latest "Look At Me, I Own Records" feature from our favourite red headed woman with a list of his favourite MP3 albums.

It is perhaps not the best means of promoting his upcoming physical CD on Audio Antihero Records...but what can we do?!

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrong-life">The Wrong Life by Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences</a>

Here's some word on his records, strange but true:

Best Album Literally Nobody Knows

Albino – Bleeding Heart Yard

Albino are a band who gig around London and have never really achieved much recognition, even in obscure indie circles. They recorded this album in 2006 and it’s basically an album of near-perfect folk-pop songs and I really wish more people knew it. If a song like “Flotsam Drift” had been recorded by someone with even a tiny bit of money or publicity behind them it would have reached Coldplay-esque proportions of success…

Album I’d Be Least Likely to Give my Grandmother for Christmas

Momus – Hippopotamomus

There are two famous (in minor indie celebrity terms) stories about this album – firstly the fact that the NME gave it a 0 out of 10 after their reviewer was physically sick through listening to the song “a Dull Documentary” and that the whole album was ultimately pulped due to Michelin’s legal action over the song “Michelin Man” which compared their corporate mascot to a sex toy. For any other act this would undoubtedly be considered a bizarre piece of legal action. However – given Momus was also sued by transsexual conceptual artist Wendy Carlos for a later song speculating on her travelling through time to engage in a relationship with her pre-surgery identity Walter Carlos – he probably found it a bit more par for the course.

The album itself is basically an album of songs about sex but, rather than being erotic or deliberately shocking done with quite a childlike sense of glee and wonder. Vorarephilia, bestiality, and various other paraphilias are all covered. The overall effect is rather playful though, and there’s something very joyful about someone being as explicit as possible purely ‘cos they can. Still won’t be given it to my Grandmother for Christmas though!

Guiltiest Pleasure

Simon Turner – Sex Appeal

Simon Turner was a 70s aspiring teen pop star who never quite made it, later released a couple of great albums on Creation as the King of Luxembourg and now, as Simon Fisher-Turner, is a respected film composer on Mute Records. “Sex Appeal” is a compilation of what he terms the “awful pop music” of his early career, perhaps made a bit more contentious than it might be due to the fact that many of the songs were written by his then-mentor Jonathan King which does admittedly colour your perception of some of the more innocent songs. There’s some great offbeat throwaway pop songs on here though and I do rather enjoy it.

Most Ridiculous Claim that the First Album was Better

David Bowie – the Deram Anthology

Most people into music know the story of David Bowie – a struggling musician called David Jones who kept releasing music without success until he changed his name, changed his identity and suddenly started writing brilliant songs. Not so many people though have actually heard the records he released during that time – one album and a few singles on Deram records which are compiled on the “Deram Anthology”. It’s a strange mix of music hall, novelty songs, psychedelia and the odd moment of sweeping pop brilliance but what’s really fascinating is just listening to someone develop, try things out, fail and try again. There’s something very human about it and I’m a big fan.

Best Album With Worst Title

Final Fantasy – He Poos Clouds

I’m a huge fan of Owen Pallett and this is one of my favourite albums of recent years – perhaps even my favourite. But Christ I wish it had a different name when I recommend it to people…

Most Star-Studded Album

Rogues’ Gallery – Various Artists

Rogues’ Gallery was released in the wake of the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and is basically a set of covers of traditional sea shanties recorded by one producer in four locations around the world with whoever he can get to play on the records. So far, this is probably only interesting to me, but the cast of performers is staggering – Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Martin Carthy, Warren Ellis, Richard Thompson III, Loudon Wainwright III, Anthony from Anthony & the Johnsons, Stan Ridgeway, Van Dyke Parks and, erm, Sting all feature and there’s some absolutely cracking songs. All in all, it’s amazing it isn’t more widely known…

Best Boxset

Jake Thackray - Jake in a Box

Jake Thackray was sort of a Yorkshire Jacques Brel. He taught English in France and then starting performing songs became, oddly a staple of “That’s Life” for a few years as well as releasing some brilliantly observed warm, satirical and funny songs about Northern life in the 1960s which stand amongst the most perfect examples of narrative storytelling I’ve ever heard. This compilation contains nearly everything he ever released and is utterly superb.

Most Improbably Festive

Mickey & Bunny sing English Christmas Carols in Ukranian

I found this online (you can too here) when I was searching for music for a Christmas gig I put on three years ago. As far as I can understand it’s a 1965 Christmas album by a husband and wife duo are called Mickey and Bunny and are, erm, singing English Christmas Carols in Ukranain. There’s something very weird about hearing nostalgia-inducing songs from your childhood in an entirely different language and it’s both comforting and jarring at the same time. Слухай Як Вісник Співає (or Hark the Herald Angels Sing as it’s known in English) is definitely the strongest moment, which is odd at it’s not one of my favourite carols.

Honourable mention must also go to the 1973 album Merry Christmas from the US Navy, which I found on the same blog. Recorded just after the end of compulsory military service in the US, it was a strange mix of Christmas record and Navy recruitment ad where Navy bands playing traditional carols were mixed with then-TV comedian Danny Thomas extolling the virtues of Christmas, family, tradition and signing up for the Navy as though they all went logically together.

“In the sprirt of this glad season, the United States renews its faith in the many blessings that are ours. We are a country endowed with great natural and spiritual wealth. And ours is a people of strong minds and stout hearts, determined to rise to new heights of happiness and Nationals Security.” You don’t get that from the Queen’s Christmas message.

The "The Wrong Life" EP from Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences is out Monday the 1st of August on CD & Download and you can pre-order it from:

Bandcamp - free track for your troubles

iTunes

Amazon

Play

Rough Trade

Jezus Factory - you can get their complete discography from these badboys

Look At Me, I Own Records! #8 - Kathleen Elise (WVUM Radio)

2011-07-10T13:21:00.006+01:00

BOYS AND GENTLEMEN!

I present the first piece of solid evidence that chicks dig us.

This installment of "Look At Me, I Own Records!" comes from our number 1 Pre-Raphaelite, Kathleen Elise of Miami's WVUM Radio. She recently interviewed me for her show, which will broadcast sometime soon. I cannot believe some of the things I said...Pitchfork are going to send their hit squad after me (and I'll probably just be happy for the attention). There's also going to be exclusive sessions from the hypochondriac-tic Broken Shoulder (new split EP in September with Fighting Kites) and the mischievous and expensive Benjamin Shaw (new album in November, I've even hired PR for it).

Coolest find? The Max Levine Ensemble/The Spirit Animals 7”

When I was a kid (a younger kid), Max Levine represented everything about punk to me. I learned of them from my cousin, who worked at an infoshop in D.C., and I was soon obsessed with their music and their mantra. Unfortunately, the one time they came down to Miami I was not allowed to go see them because the venue had a bad reputation. Bummer. At any rate, I stumbled upon this split at my local record shop and the 13-year-old in me about died.

Cover with most back hair? Seven Songs, by Fabulous Diamonds

This one easily goes to Seven Songs, one of two records I own by Fabulous Diamonds. I work at a radio station and intended to play the albums on my show, but it never ended up happening – likely because the most interesting thing about this record is its cover. Eugh.

Most valuable? Inside In/Inside Out Live at Abbey Road, by The Kooks, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, by Modest Mouse

My parents tried to buy my love by getting me these two albums for Christmas. It worked. Each album is categorically unattainable in the U.S. They are the envy of my friends and foes alike, and oh, how I cherish them.

Most nerdy? Romeo and Juliet Original Soundtrack Recording

I’m an English major and a book hound and an all around SNOOT, so it should surprise no one that I enjoy my fair share of Shakespeare. One of the better film versions of Romeo and Juliet is the 1968 film produced by Franco Zeffirelli (which I own on VHS courtesy of Ebay). I bought this soundtrack just for the arrangement of “What is a Youth” – and maybe partly for all the pictures of Leonard Whiting.

Best album I inherited? Everything’s Archie, by The Archies

My momma always said she’s responsible for my love of music and books. The music bit comes from her relentless blasting of musicals and The Archies throughout my childhood. She’s since passed on her Archies records to me, and for my part I’ve amassed a good number of musicals on vinyl. Thanks, mami!

Hardest to find? The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, by David Bowie

I don’t believe this record is particularly rare, but for some reason I had to travel to three states before I finally found a copy. It was worth it, though, as this album is by far my favorite of the three Bowies I own.

Album I hope to never have to listen to?

(Editor's note: Seriously, man. Kathleen was called on this gross error of judgement INSTANTANEOUSLY. Tad are brilliant. Everyone knows that. 'I'M A JINX! I'M A JINX!')

As I said earlier, I work at a radio station. We get sent A LOT of terrible, terrible, terrible music, most of it in the form of .mp3s or CDs. One of the only vinyls we still have is the one you’re looking at, TAD, by 8-Way Santa – or maybe it’s 8-Way Santa, by TAD. I don’t know. I can only be sure that 1) I do not want to know what an 8-way Santa is, and 2) I’m grateful I will probably never have to listen to whatever music that mustachioed man is offering.

So that's what our fair lady offered us. If you live in a civilised time zone then you should naturally tune into her show. For me it's on at like 4am or something grotesque...and some of us HAVE JOBS TO GO TO (woefully).

Anyway, catch up on the previous installments in this series (I did one, once) here - LOOK AT ME, I OWN RECORDS! If you want to contribute then e-mail me info@audioantihero.com (it doesn't matter if you're a massive nobody).

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

Hawkwind Duvall's "Album Of The Week" - Darkness On The Edge Of Town

2011-06-22T19:30:00.006+01:00

Audio Antihero Vice President (and Cactus) Hawkwind Duvall gives us his album of the week.

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Columbia, 1978)

"Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop,

I'll be on that hill with everything I got.

Lives on the line where dreams are found and lost,

I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost,

For wanting things that can only be found,

In the darkness on the edge of town."

Even me, a Cactus, couldn't say it better. RIP Big Man, I only wish my desert could have felt the shade of your shadow.

RIP Big Man

2011-06-19T11:06:00.002+01:00

RIP Clarence Clemons - 11/01/1942-18/06/2011

Thanks very much for giving me this. 2009 was perhaps the only truly great year I've ever had and you were a big part of it.

Godspeed,

Jamie

Hawkind Duvall's "Album Of The Week" - The Outdoor Types

2011-06-13T13:21:00.006+01:00

Audio Antihero Vice President and Low Maintenance Potted Plant HAWKWIND DUVALL has returned to give us his Album Of The Week:

The Outdoor Types - It Is The Mercy (I Blame The Parents Records, 2011)

"Southern swag from Midlands wags...The Outdoor Types return with their second full length album since partnering with the aged genius that is I Blame The Parents Records. Tales of murder, betrayal, hell-to-pay, execution and best friend's wives...that's how we roll back home, law of the sand here in the badland.

I haven't heard the first album but Jamie tells me this is one much better. Hoxton will hate The Outdoor Types.

I give it 8/10. I like the cover a lot too."

"It Is The Mercy" is out today. I recommend the vinyl - buy from Rough Trade.

The Outdoor Types previously contributed a track to Audio Antihero's "Bob Hope would." compilation to raise money for Japan - it's still available on Bandcamp.

New EP & Launch Gig

2011-06-09T00:00:00.004+01:00

WE ARE RELEASING AN EP AND PUTTING ON A GIG.

PAUL HAWKINS & THE AWKWARD SILENCES' "The Wrong Life" is the next EP in our "2011 Commercial Suicide Series" and is available for pre-order on CD & Download - BUY.

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrong-life">The Wrong Life by Audio Antihero</a>

We're even co-promoting our first ever gig to launch this special blighter at The Brixton Windmill on July 1st with supprt from AAH super-gods Wartgore Hellsnicker & Jack Hayter.

Please come to that. I don't want it to be like my birthday.

Facebook Event

Songkick Listing

WeGotTickets

Thanks for your support.

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

Hawkwind Duvall's "Album Of The Week"

2011-06-07T21:18:00.007+01:00

I've asked Audio Antihero Vice President Hawkwind Duvall to pull his weight a little bit more and start contributing to the blog. He came up with the idea of an 'Album Of The Week' feature, which I liked.

For his first post he's chosen:

Cat Power - You Are Free (2003, Matador)

"Firstly folks, I'm going to be real with you...we don't have a whole lotta cats in the desert and if we did, I don't see them being very powerful for very long. So frankly, where I'm from Cat Power is a fucking shit name for a band.

Beyond that though, this lead vocal chick (also called Cat) is pretty foxy and sings pretty nice too so I don't mind so much.

It's kind of a chill-out album...so I'd mostly listen to this on those -5 nights back home but in Godforsaken South London I can pretty much listen to it all day as it's so frickin' cold all the frickin' time. I think the concept and artwork is all pretty touching but I don't feel too free in this stinkin' pot looking like Grouch from Sesame Street. Pah.

"We Are Free" is also evidence that every album featuring Dave Grohl is great UNLESS he sings lead vocal on more than 1 song, in which case it's irredeemable nonsense. (I'mtalkingtoyouFooFightersyoucan'tkeepduckingmeforever).

Anyway, I give it 8/10."

Thanks Hawk!

Free MP3: Jack Hayter - "Another Girl Another Planet" (The Only Ones cover)

2011-06-07T00:00:00.004+01:00

It's bold enough to cover a classic song...then bolder still to re-do one you actually got away with successfully in the first place. But that's our Jack and this is lovely.

Jack Hayter - Another Girl Another Planet (The Only Ones Cover) by AudioAntihero

Here's what he had to say:

"My Ford Mondeo is an awful wreck, but it serves as a useful mobile vocal booth. The singing bit was recorded late at night at Membury services on the M4. Some things are dangerous to play with because they have a huge hold on peoples hearts, and this song is a particularly powerful ghost. When I first did it about 10 years ago I remember thinking "Who am I to dare muck around with this?" I suppose its the equivalent of standing on a stage with a blazing white Fender Stratocaster; only the foolish or the overly egotistical try. I must be one of those two types. This cover of The Only Ones "Another Girl Another Planet" has just a rather raw pedal steel backing. The full version with Darren, John and Ant is on my "Practical Wireless" album."

You can buy records from Jack Hayter including our "Sucky Tart" EP and the "Practical Wireless" LP on Bandcamp.

Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

WARTGORE HELLSNICKER'S "Moderate Rock" EP - OUT NOW

2011-05-30T11:11:00.003+01:00

The moment you've all forgot to be waiting for:

BUY THE GRUNGE! BUY THE GRUNGE! BUY THE GRUNGE!

Available now: Bandcamp / iTunes / Rough Trade / Amazon

<a href="http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/moderate-rock">Moderate Rock by Audio Antihero</a>

"An eleven minute joyride...-8.2/10." - The Whiteboard Project

"A strange and addictive amalgam of grunge, jazz and blistering noise - 8/10."- The Music Fix

"A celebration of imperfection and ugly...music for people that don't like other people."– Glasswerk

“Brutally propounds an SST-flavored guitar attack abetted by an RFTC-esque horn section (that conjures occasional klezmer outbursts)…Aural ambrosia for the disaffected.”– Clicky Clicky

We are very much still specialists in commercial suicide.

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Gods Of Grunge

www.audioantihero.com

Free MP3: Jack Hayter - Take It To The Limit (The Eagles cover)

2011-05-29T15:24:00.003+01:00

Third in our weekly series of free Jack Hayter cover MP3s is "Take It To The Limit" originally by The Eagles. Jack isn't entirely convinced of its quality but I find it quite haunting. It's not quite as jolly as when Heron recorded their album in a field...

Jack Hayter - Take It To The Limit (The Eagles cover) by audioantihero

Here's what he said:

'For someone who's musical consciousness started with the Adverts and the Ramones, the Eagles represented the enemy and I still don't really like their laid back nonsense. I remember I'd yell this out into my bike helmet as I rode down the A303...or hared across London when I was working for Catford Couriers. It's a song best suited to life on the ragged edges of tyre adhesion. You might imagine something by Motorhead would suit better..but that's only really the case in films and imagination. People who ride motorbikes for a living, at speed for ten hours a day, have souls that need soothing which is probably why I sang it. The sheep and cattle you can make out in the distance were culled during the Foot and Mouth epidemic of 2001... possibly the day after this was recorded on a cold night near Highhampton in Devon where the epidemic started. Bleak days indeed'.

Jack also has a few records out, two of which Audio Antihero have a hand in - www.jackhayter.bandcamp.com - you might also like to know that Hefner's "Dead Media" album (where Jack got his first lead vocal) has got the double disc treatment and is available to buy direct from Hefnet.com.

Thanks & Never Say DIY!

Jamie - Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide

www.audioantihero.com

P.S Wartgore Hellsnicker's "Moderate Rock" is out tomorrow - www.audioantihero.bandcamp.com

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Free MP3: Jack Hayter - Take It To The Limit (The Eagles cover)

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