International Teachers of Pop - After Dark

A brand new-ish Friday banger courtesy of those International Teachers of Pop. Shades of Ladytron at their icy pop best.

The Shadracks - When I Can't Remember

Wonderfully raw garage pop from bright young things The Shadracks, rather brilliantly (un)produced by a certain Mr Billy Childish esq.

Morphine - Cure for Pain

I picked up two copies of Morphine's Cure for Pain album over the weekend...and promptly put them back on the shelf again as I'd only vaguely heard of the band and didn't want to waste 66p. Oh foolish Baron. It turns out that Morphine are/were something of a hidden jazzy, bluesy, alt rock gem. Returning to the charity shop in question both CDs were, of course, gone so I've just spunked almost £9 on a copy from eBay (clearly I'm not the only one who's a recent convert). Anyway, have a listen. It might not be your bag but if it is I suspect you'll get as addicted as me...

PS: Sadly Morphine is no more as lead singer Mark Sandman died of a heart attack in stage way back in 1999. He was just 46.

PPS: Here's another one. How good is this?!

Sheila E - Sex Cymbal

Picked up another big haul of cheapo CDs at the weekend including stuff from Sigur Ros, The Blue Nile, The Wonderstuff, Buddy Rich, The Pixies and one time Prince collaborator Sheila E...13 CDs in total for a mere £5. Good grief. I've wittered on about how cheap CDs are now and, sure, you can just stream most of the tracks for free but that's a faff and generally the quality's a bag a shite so, if you've got the room and a half decent stereo there's simply never been a better time to fill your boots. Plus, is it just me or are those little shiny discs starting to feel a little retro cool...? 

The Breeders - Divine Hammer

Oh boy we could do with 'one divine hammer' right now. I can think of quite a few politicians I'd like to see squished by it too...

M.C. Syn-Dee - Best To Be A Girl

Got given a bunch of records the other week and this is pretty much the only one I hadn't heard before, a lovely little slice of late 80s girl rap a la Neneh Cherry. No idea what happened to M.C. Syn-Dee but clearly John Peel was a bit of a fan. Who knew eh?

Hen Ogledd - Problem Child

Cop a load of this. Everything Everything meets Peter Gabriel in some remote Welsh village. Really rather excellent all round. Well done Hen Ogledd.

The Nice - America

For some reason this track's been going round and round in my head this morning. What would the news be without endless prattling politicians (from all sides) eh? Still, give it 20 years and the world will be probably be run by 'Google'. In the meantime let's enjoy some rather fine heavy proto prog from 1968! Groovy man. 

Ice Nine Kills - Thank God It's Friday

An album of horror themed metalcore tracks anyone? No? Just me then eh? In honour of both Halloween and the fact that it's ruddy Friday submit your eyes and ears to a little Ice Nine Kills and their throat ripping tribute to the Friday 13th franchise (new album Silver Scream features 13 such tracks...13...spooky eh...I guess 666 was a bit of a stretch for 'em). Play it loud and freak out the cat/dog/neighbours.