We Smoke Fags

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh! new favourite band for this week at least. This band are wonderful; stroppy, sneery, loud and thumping. On their MySpace they reference The Slits and Public Image amongst others but there's so much more at work here. Their sound is solid, guitars and driving synths badda badda badda like a big throbbing love thing on the dancefloor. if I was a fifteen year old boy, or girl, instead of a fifty year old man, I would have this lot on repeat all the time. They would be the soundtrack of my life. Look.

The video was shot in Paris, according to Promonews, and that must have been a blast. Somewhere between Vince Clarke's angry grandson and These New Puritans (a past favourite band of the week) they deserve to have their picture up on millions of bedroom walls. I notice that Joey, Mr Main WSM obv, plans on producing the first album himself. Fucking brilliant.

So many fat-sounding bands end up getting pushed into the studio with some engineer-producer who has absolutely no idea of the power and thrill of live music, being on stage, shagging groupies and being generally totally misappropriate in their youth. As a result they worry if the hi-hat is loud enough, does the bass sound as good as the last Coldplay album and talk reverentially about the guitar sound on the Duffy album. Fuck 'em. Bands should produce themselves and be really careful who they give their stuff too to mix. So We Smoke Fags why don't you get Vince to do a remix for you, anyone who can make Happy Mondays sound good has to be an expert.

These guys can do a 38 date tour, according to Rough Trade's review, without even releasing a record.

The Joy Formidable's Austere

Just played Austere, by The Joy Formidable (do you think this may be the French pronunciation?) and lo it was great. It kicks in a bit so so ish but just the warm, fat analogue sound of it all had this reviewer wanting to check out more. It's on the rather wonderful Another Music=Another Kitchen - home of the 80stastic Galvatrons - released on 18th August and I reckon everyone needs to check this band out. For a three piece they record a big noise, so rush wildly down to Powers in Kilburn that is opposite The Luminaire on 11th July. I will be the weird bloke lurking down the front with the comb-over and brown mackintosh on.

Sam Cooke, Obama and Me

It's Sunday and I'm kicking back with three quarters of the family, eating, drinking wine and playing Sam Cooke. When A Change Is Gonna Come comes on the radio I'm almost close to tears. It has been a long time coming and maybe when Obama stands on the steps of the White House he should reflect on that, and acknowledge Sam Cooke for all the difference he made. Vote for Obama, he's our only chance.