What albums are you looking forward to? [2nd half 2001]

I was looking forward to Vespertine, but I heard the other day and it really depressed me. I'm a bit too unstable at the moment to take that for too long.

Also I guess I'll buy Ben Folds' album, Rockin' The Suburbs, out of loyalty more than any actual quality.

Looking forward to:

Felix da Housecat (supposed to be amazing)

Roots Manuva

new Bjork as always

Aphex Twin, although this album has become something of a lost treasure/urban legend.

maybe looking forward to:

Kate Bush, Omni Trio and Doc Scott

and what's the Carl Craig thingy: Abstract Funk Theory? If it has the Basic Channel remix of The Climax on it, than absolutely loooking forward to it.

Also am a bit afraid of new Mercury Rev album.

I'm frightened of any new New Order material. Terrified.

The new Furries album is amazing, bigger, brighter, more epic and just plain better than anything they've done before. Surprisngly serious subject matter too.

Vespertine is also gorgeous - very like Homogenic in it's 'icy' feel, only with huge choirs layered over the top of it. The Matmos collaborations are breathtaking as well.

The new Mercury Rev stuff is... melodramatic. It's nice in a way, but very much in the way that soft-focus photographs of fluffy kittens are 'nice'.

I had no idea there was a Massive Attack album on the way. Cool, that's made my week.

Latest Massive Attack news this will either be an Autumn 2001 or Spring 2002 release. No decision as yet, major labels have release schedule windows so its either or Autumn /Oct or you will have to wait to atleast March. Nothing much gets released in December/January time. I have a feeling that this may well be one of many albums that will be postponed till 2002.

Elizabeth Fraser and Airport 5. And erm, that's about it I think. Oh dear. When is Robert Wyatt going to bring a new album out?! Wah!

Oh, you know...

• the Jenny Toomey 2 CD set (!!!!)
• the Troubleman Unlimited double-disc compilation, featuring just about any underground post-punk/no-wave band you can think of
• the newest Red Monkey offering
• if those Piano Magic & Doves listings up there are accurate, them, too
• anything involving Franklin Bruno or John Darnielle (including the Extra Glenns record, which features BOTH of them!)
• new offerings from Paula Frazer (Tarnation) & Rebecca Gates (Spinanes)
• ooo! Fela Kuti reissues (FYI - I'm scanning the Pitchfork release list now)
• Quasi, Arab on Radar, Shannon Wright, Dismemberment Plan...just to be random
• the Beat Happening box set!
• _Heavenly Vs. Satan_!

And, you know. Some other stuff. Yeah. I'm a simple man, with simple tastes.

Of the things you mention, Kate Bush is possibly the most worth looking forward to. And I don't particularly like Kate Bush, or - come to think of it - own any of her records.

These 2001 threads are making me feel that pop music is very nearly over and done with.

-snaps out it-

Bring on the BAAAAAAASSSSSSS, Dillinja!!!!! :)

I totally disagree with this approach to music.

Instead I believe in approach of knowledge and awareness of forthcoming music to make informed decisions when music is released. The whole process starts from the awareness of information of a forthcoming album from an artist I am previously aware of or by scanning the environment by reading and listening to a whole multitude of sources of information for the discovery of new artists that match my aesthetic music interests and then following that interest up, the preview reports coming in, the interviews /reviews/articles in the press and online, official artists/ record company websites, discussion/message boards, the mp3 tracks, the real audio samples, the release date set, forthcoming release lists to find what is coming out when, the first few tracks played in advance of a release if your lucky on radio!, the trip to the record store to get the new release, or ordering an album and waiting for a new release to arrive - this anticipation model is a lot of the fun what the music experience is about for me.

My approach enables me to make informed decisions, the build up, the anticipation, the discovery is an important part of the process of living as a music enthusiast.

Your approach just would not work for me. Wait still something is released and I will eventually pick it up. With this approach you would constantly be reactive and reliant on the "frame of reference on the media your exposed to" once an album has been released i.e. reliant on others of setting an agenda through set playlists, charts, TV exposure, or magazines you read etc and constantly playing catch- up with an ever increasing time lag trying to find out what actually has been released, and missing out on music through not having the advance knowledge or discovering something 3 or 6 months or years later after it has been released. i.e your playing catch-up.

With my future anticipation model I set my own agenda, my own path of discovery of new music. It works for me. I could not envisage a life with your reactive approach. To have nothing to look forward to, to have a liad back reactive approach - no this is not me.

You can preorder it here Dillinja

Ignorance is no longer an excuse.

Erm, I just got a weird error message stating I already posted this but it didn't show up when I reloaded so, um, if this pointless messaage shows up twice, just consider it my cheerleading gift to you. Again!

SPIRITUALIZED! PULP! SPIRITUALIZED! PULP!

The Pinething ;)

>>> I really don't understand Pinefox: alone next week will see the release of these fine albums

Beta Band: Hot Shots II Dillinja: Cybotron (CD Release date!) Perry Farrell: Song Yet to be Sung Felix Da Housecat: Kittenz And Thee Glitz' John B: Future Reference (Beta Recordings) Oval: Ovalcommers (Form & Function) Reissues: 23 Skidoo - Seven Songs 23 Skidoo - Urban Gamelan

Martian - you are such a CARD.

I like Reynard's "very nearly over and done with" line, though not necessarily for the right reasons. It looks like it should be hung in a museum of "deep pessimism", and its great charm is its temptingness (if that is a word) while still being so completely and utterly wrong. Fancy a trip over to Putney Vale Cemetary with me, Reynard? Then I'll be on your side for a few hours and we can sit in collected mourning and disillusionment, before you go back home with the Hemulen, and I go back home and listen to "Rooty" (whatever that is, you say) ...

Snufkin: 'Deep pessimism'? Guilty as depth-charged.

that said, when the free design released their first record for twenty five years i enjoyed looking forward to it much more than i enjoyed listening to it.

Martian has been too hard on the Pinefox, I find. The Pinefox is sweet, kind, friendly and likeable in a sense increasingly missing from this collection of smug London pub bores (I'm not thinking of Gareth at all here, but I'm thinking of alarmingly many other people). I don't see why you *have* to inform the Pinefox of records you know as well as I do that he won't be interested in. I like my mum, but I wouldn't inform her of such things when I know it'd be a waste of everyone's time. I do the same thing with the Pinefox. Surely you should, Martian?

Interesting that Reynard calls me "Snufkin" when I've never signed myself as such. Does he remember when I likened myself to said character? It's true, though he can sometimes make the Muskrat look like fresh-faced young Moomintroll. I don't mean that as an insult, though.

Tired,

Robin.

I get really excited about Radiohead albums, but seeing as they look like they might rest again after the tour, I'm waiting for the new Chems, Underworld and Aphex respectively. Is anybody doing any interesting new rock stuff?