Stereolab - Live in Liverpool & London 1999.

Sadly Stereolab have called it a day for the time being, however having been together for nineteen years the desire to take a rest and move on to new projects is understandable.

This is the band a decade ago from two different concerts both recorded by the BBC.

Tracks 1 to 5 are from a BBC Broadcast at The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool on the 28th, October 1999. Tracks 6 to 15 are from a BBC Broadcast at The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on the 3rd June 1999.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@224kbps

Genre: Post-rock, indie rock, ambient.

Set: Two sets (neither complete).

Set List:

Liverpool:

1. Escape pod.
2. The free design.
3. Metronomic underground.
4. Op hop detonation.
5. Analogue rock.

London:

6. Miss modular.
7. Escape pod.
8. The free design.
9. Analogue rock.
10. Op hop detonation.
11. Percolator.
12. Rainbow conversation.
13. People do it all the time.
14. Metronomic underground.
15. The seeming and the meaning.

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: The wikipedia entry for Stereolab which is pretty comprehensive includes the following:

Called "one of the most fiercely independent and original groups of the Nineties", Stereolab were one of the first bands to be termed "post-rock". Their primary musical influence is 1970s krautrock, which they combine with lounge, 1960s pop, and experimental pop music. They are noted for their heavy use of vintage electronic keyboards, and their sound often overlays a repetitive "motorik" beat with female vocals sung in English or French. Stereolab often incorporate socio-political themes into their lyrics.

These two concert elements give a fine feel to the live capabilities of the exceptional Stereolab.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk - Stereolab

Beehive Recommends - The Dustys

Working my way through this weeks music inbox I came across The Dustys for the first time. It was one of those moments that when I started listening I found my self immediately stop everything else my attention grabbed. I like those moments so thanks The Dustys!

Part of their bio states 'The Dustys began as a new direction for veterans of the DC-area garage punk scene, getting together to write fuller, more power-pop and acid rock influenced tunes. Though they’ve always been in love with classic sounds like Big Star, Badfinger, Can, and T-rex, it was a revelation to finally get a chance to merge that sweet love with the muscle of the Devil Dogs and the stoner grooves of Fu Manchu or Red Sparrowes'. and 'The Dustys sound is classic without being nostalgic, psychedelic without being pretentious--banging enough to make you dance but intricate enough to take you on a roadtrip through the desert in every song'.

I would only add that I really like what I have heard so far and hope we get to hear a whole lot more before long.

The Bravery got hold off their debut EP last year and to cut the story short The Dustys are on tour with them in the USA & Canada throughout October & November!

Listen:
'Dangerous Little Signs'.



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace.
Buy: HERE.
Tour Dates: Tumblr

Beehive Recommends - Hey Ocean!

There are days when bands like Hey Ocean! are madatory listening. Days when you need a boost, your spirit needs a little lift, or you kinda wanna jig around a bit.

Having just announced their Fall tour in Canada & the USA a good number of people are in for a treat as their live shows are reckoned to be pretty special.

Quoting some of the detail (it's Friday I am intitiled to copy and paste a little! 'Often described as one of Canada’s best up-and-coming acts, Hey Ocean is a young band with an extraordinary talent for blending various musical styles into a brand of infectious pop that is uniquely their own. Together, Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham and David Vertesi have created a musical repertoire that cannot be ignored – be it on radio, television or your neighbor’s iPod, Hey Ocean will soon be everywhere. What began as a very casual musical partnership on the beaches of Costa Rica, has now morphed into one of Canada’s most successful independent bands. Their rapid success can be attributed to their do-it-yourself attitude, which has recently helped build their self-owned label, Pop Machine. Continuously leaving fans in awe, Hey Ocean combines sheer talent, charismatic songs, and an undeniably energetic live show, making them a must see band for 2009! It’s Easier To Be Somebody Else is now available on iTunes. '

Listen:
'A Song About California'



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace.
Tour Dates: HERE.

Captain Beefheart - Amsterdam 1974

Captain Beefheart (aka Don Van Vliet) and The Magic Band had a rather tumultuous relationship at times, and in early 1974 he found himself touring with a new set of musicians.

Don Van Vliet's music attracted a devoted following and his influence on fellow musicians, particularly those of the punk and New Wave movements, has been described as incalculable. He stopped touring and recording in the early 1980's to concentrate on painting.

This is Captain Beefheart nonetheless in characteristic form back live at The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, on the 22nd June 1974.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Experimental rock, psychedelic rock, blues-rock, avant garde, protopunk.

Set: Full set

Set List:

1. Mighty Crazy - Be Your Dog.
2. Sweet Georgia Brown.
3. This Is The Day.
4. Abba Zaba.
5. Peaches.
6. Who'll Be The Next One ? and Yer Gonna Need Somebody On Yer bond.

Links: Semi Official Fan Site HERE.

Comments: In 1974, immediately after the recording of Unconditionally Guaranteed, an album which continued the trend towards a more commercial sound heard on several of the Clear Spot tracks, The Magic Band, which had by then coalesced around the core of Art Tripp III, Alex St. Clair, Bill Harkleroad and Rockette Morton, decided they could no longer work with Don Van Vliet, who was by all accounts a severe taskmaster. They left to form Mallard.

Don Van Vliet quickly formed a new Magic Band of musicians who had no experience with his music and in fact had never heard it. Having no knowledge of the previous Magic Band style they simply improvised what they thought would go with each song, played much slicker versions that have been described as "bar band" versions of Beefheart's songs. A negative review described this incarnation of the Magic Band as the "Tragic Band," a term that has sadly stuck over the years.

Reloaded - 09/06/2015 - download link in comments.

Gong - Live In Norway 1974

This is the classic line up of Gong performing live in Oslo, Norway back on the 15th December 1974.

For the uninitiated Gong are a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen.

Between 1973 and 1974, Gong, now augmented by guitarist Steve Hillage, released their best-known work, the "Radio Gnome Trilogy", three records that expounded upon the (previously only hinted at) Gong mythology, Flying Teapot, Angel's Egg, and You.

In 1975 the band line began to alter and key members of the group moved on.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, space rock, jazz fusion

Set: Full set (unable to confirm).

Set List:

01. Invocation [06:13]
02. Master Builder [07:00]
03. A Perfect Mystery [02:59]
04. Tropical Fish [07:13]
05. I Never Did Before [07:56]
06. White Christmas [00:28]
07. Solar Musik Suite pt. 1 [06:09]
08. Solar Musik Suite pt. 2 [03:42]
09. Flute Salad [09:35]
10. Oily Way [03:10]
11. Outer Temple [03:51]
12. Inner Temple [05:16]
13. A Sprinkling of Clouds [02:30]

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: This year has seen the classic Gong line up reunite and record a brand new (and quite funky) album entitled 2032. I first discovered the band through there initial British release of Camembert Electrique which was given a belated UK release in late 1974. It was priced at 59p (that was the price of a typical single rather than an album), ensuring that sufficient numbers were sold for the album to chart had it not been barred from the charts for being so cheap.

I discovered this concert on another site and as a long time fan of Pothead Pixies, Flying Teapots, and all manner of other crazy Gong things, could not resist presenting this concert on the Beehive !

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk - Gong