The Sigla Blog

This post has two purposes, some observations and and many brief recommendations:

- It plugs the ever-widening guilty hole in my conscience for not blogging (ah yes, more 12 hour days this week). It’s after 8pm and I reckon I’ve another three hours of stuff to finish. When you’ve been writing work stuff for 12 hours a day, it’s exceedingly hard to feel like writing any more, even if it’s a slapdash post like this.

- Damien seems to listen to my music recommendations. Although why he’s not appreciating the new Flaming Lips album I’ll never know. I’ll just have to ratchet up the musical indoctrination.

This post also contains some random observations and serious urge recommendations:

- I’ve never been a massive Frames fan but Glen Hansard’s new album with Marketa Irglova is amazing. So, so beautiful. I can’t stop listening to it.

- In the opposite corner, there’s the new very fine album from Boxes. Recorded with Steve Albini in the US, it’s got a slight eighties feel to it (in a good way) and fans of The Redneck Manifesto’s brand of asymmetric post-rock will love it. They launch their album on April 21st. More details (and music) at at their myspace page.

- Two music related films to see this week: The Devil and Daniel Johnston and Don’t Come Knocking. The latter is by Wim Wenders who made Paris, Texas, one of my all-time favourite films. Sam Shepard wrote both films and although Don’t Come Knocking is not strictly about music, music is very much a Wenders theme.

- If you don’t already know it, myspace is a great way to listen to lots of new music for free. Through it, I’ve discovered lots of fantastic music, especially electronica, from the languidly melodic to the minimalist bleepy kind. I’m currently distracted by Boer Polar, Muet and especially Mr. Hopkinson’s computer, a chap who does vocoder versions of indie classics like Radiohead’s ‘Fake Plastic Trees’, The Pixies ‘Where is My Mind?’ and ‘Fool’s Gold’ by The Stone Roses.

- Delighted to see old time ska legends The Skatellites have been added to this year’s The Electric Picnic bill. Maybe it’s a fortuitous omen of the decent line-up we’re all craving.

And finally my other half plays some of his own music (sans Halfset) this Friday. He’s playing with Scottish band North Atlantic Oscillation at Maximum Joy’s regular night at The Tap in Dublin this Friday April 7th.

Right, I better get back to work.