What does their name mean in British?

Incandenza wrote:
What does their name mean in British?
Bender, mourning:

-

'Bender' was a popular derogatory slang term meaning 'male homosexual' in the 80s and 90s, inca. For example: "I thought Lucia was a bender, how comes he's got a girlfriend?" / "That don't mean nothing - no one knew Freddie Mercury was a bender till he died" &c.

El Liq: Skepta's dropped off for a moment, although he's apparently done a track with P Diddy, but have you heard D Double E's Streetfighter Riddim? Top tune.

The BBC is your main homegirl.

Some nice 8-bit-ness there.

Oh, and note how the pop-screen becomes a peak-screen!

<Mmmmmm... Peek Freans!>

Must eat biscuits!

Today, I have mostly been listening to the various projects by Xavier Paradis: Arnaud Lazlaud, Echo Kitty and Automelodi, whose eponymous new album is really rather excellent!

As for me, it's been Fred Astaire for the last day or so, mostly stuff from his 1950s Verve albums.

What do people on OTF think of Hurts? I think they are pretty good and surprised they've not been mentioned more on here, thought they would be the sort of thing thats popular on here (unless i've missed it).

Anyway I like this song

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuwdw7KmGwA

Had a few drinks.

I have read pretty mixed things about them, they are portrayed a bit as indie bedwetters bringing the works of 1987 one hit wonder Black to life, something that doesn't encourage me to be honest.

The Gayngs album is never far away from my stereo at the moment, and I've just discovered this rather stunning George Michael cover with help from Har Mar Superstar.

I'm also enjoying Luke Abbott's Holkham Drones: a nice, bouncy album of kraut inspired electronica. Will appeal to fans of Aphex/Cluster/Harmonia and the good Ulrich Schnauss. Brazil is a quite brilliant track.

There's some film based Bender confusion flagged up in this Guardian review, although there is an English band called Bender (I think it's Steve Gullick- the photographer-'s band.

The new Peter Broderick album 'How They Are' is stunning, seven tracks of beautiful pared down piano and vocals with a cinematic soundtrack feel.

Perhaps the most moving music of this type I have heard since Plush's 'More You Becomes You'.

Dalliance: I've just found out that Marcus from Grasscut is one of my writers! What a dude.

Gold Panda 'Lucky Shiner' Essex based solo electronica artist who studied in Japan for a few years and was obviously influenced by his stay. One of the songs sounds a bit like Jumbo by Underworld but this is a misleading reference. Slightly uplifting in a Balearic way with ethno techno/hypnagogic pop (urgh to both of those terms), minimal house, freak folk overtones. If you like the Pantha Du Prince album I can't recommend this enough.

Swans 'My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky' Apocalyptic, righteous, driving rock music made by grizzled old hands who sound like they're staking everything on this. Amazing guitar work from REM/Ministry drummer Bill Reiflin, multi-tracking acoustics to make them sound like zithers and dulcimers. Also features Devendra Banhart but don't let that put you off.

Shit Robot 'From The Cradle To The Rave' Brilliant electro pop and acid from DFA, featuring Nancy Whang, James Murphy and the little fellow from Hot Chip on vocals.

Salem 'King Night' If you're the sort of person who can't listen to music made by hipsters then you'll hate this but it is your loss. Salem have got such a distinct sound featuring chopped and screwed Slim Thug style vocals, shoegaze female vocals, juke drum programming, almighty 'Atmosphere' by Joy Division style synthesizers and glo-fi atmospherics. The innevitable wave of copycat bands has already hoved into view but don't hold that against the originators.

Various Artists 'Pommegranates' Excellent Finders Keepers collection of Persian psych, Iranian funk etc from the late 60s/70s recorded during the intense period of modernisation under the Shah.

Various Artists 'Cold Waves and Minimal Electronics' Angular's scene sampler of DIY synth music from Europe in the early 80s. Probably the best compilation of the year so far. This and Stones Throw's The Minimal Wave Tapes vol 1 have probably, much to his chagrin, made Clive the hippest person we all know. (He was always hip to me.)

Tell him to make more music then. Now!

Salem and Swans are on my list of stuff to listen to as well. I have seen Shit Robot described as the best release DFA will have this year but I don't get them much at all, never have.

Nice Nice are a band who have been round for a few years doing pleasant enough lengthy ambient abstract stuff and they signed recently to Warp. First fruits of that coming together is their recent album 'Extra Wow' and it's great. It's a lot more focused than their earlier work, think Animal Collective mixed with a fusion of Holy (Fuck) Buttons. It has that same sort of Andrew Wetherall feel with the production too.

Micah P.Hinson is an American signer songer writer from Memphis with the usual backstory of homelessness, drugs and depression. He has been making emotionally wrought Americana with almost operatic flourishes since 2004. His gravelly voice will be an acquired taste to some but every one of his 6 albums including the current one 'Micah P.Hinson & The Pioneer Saboteurs' are worth a listen.

I have spoken before about Glasgow's downbeat miserabilists Meursault, an excellent band who are getting better with every record. Their recent album 'All Creatures Will Make Merry' is highly recommended, like Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad they are miles better than Glasvegas and Meursault have a woozy, slightly drunken melancholic edge to a lot of their music which makes them the West of Scotland heirs to the crown of the much missed Arab Strap.

Erleen.

Minimal Electropop + BIG coloured wigs = Happy happy Clivey!

The 'III' EP by Kite.

If you like The Knife, then check them out - they're like a slightly poppier version of the aforementioned fellow Swedes.

The new Swans is brilliant, isn't it? It sounds pretty much like I thought it would (somewhere between Swans and Angels of Light), but all the better for it. Devendra Banhart's vocals are surprisingly wonderful: he seems to imitate Gira's style and it really works.

Also enjoying a Hungarian prog/math/funk band called Mafsel whose constituent parts sound quite appalling but who make a most head bangingly/toe tappingly pleasing whole. And Part Wild Horses Mane On Both Side's Poisson tape. They're a two piece improv (flute and drums) beamed in from some tribal utopia.

Black Mountain - Wilderness Years
Darkthrone - Circle the Wagons
The Sword - Warp Riders

Another vote for the Swans album over here; an awesome sound.

Salem are an odd one. They're really good; combining that chopped and screwed sound with indie-ish/electronica oneiric obliqueness is a nice idea, fully realised on the album - it sounds worked, they've not cut corners. But I don't think I'll ever listen to them again, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's just too neat an exercise to take on a life of its own.

I've listened to most of the Salem album over the last couple of mornings (perfect walk to work material) and yeah, it's impressive, just a bit one-paced. I think all that intricate rhythmn pattern work would suit itself well to a few changes of tempo, at least.

Yeah, good point. Heavy sedation has its charms but it shouldn't be an entry requirement.