Cougar Microbes are marching in like army ants…

I enter Highbury’s tiny Buffalo Bar on a freezing night expecting the venue to be crammed to the rafters with internet kids in the know, after all just a few weeks after this tiny debut London show was announced an additional night at the Borderline in central London was hastily added. I was sure that  our Capital’s scene stalwarts and savvy donwloaders would be swarming by the hundreds and that this additional date was to cope with extra demand.

As I descend the few steps into the cold little venue I find myself bemused by the lack of bodies present… a couple of support bands, an idiotic gaggle of braindead teenage girls, some industry bods propping up the bar and that’s pretty much it. Sparse.

So Many Dynamos take to the stage rather late for a Tuesday night and I’m starting to suspect that whoever is “promoting” this show is a bit of a clown, all the better for me as I stand, view unimpaired by punter’s heads and take in the fine fine show. The band are relaxed and appear happy enough as they get down to business banging out tune after tune from their impressive ‘Loud Wars‘ début album.

As the final bars ring out I leg it for the last tube, disheartened with the state of the live music scene in this fine city, it’s a shame visiting bands are faced with such a venue/promoter lottery when making their first steps this side of the Atlantic and I really worry about the damage it could cause.

I’ve heard recently of some bands starting to skip the UK all together when heading into Europe for just this reason, an ailing industry having it’s faltering breaths clubbed out of it by clueless douchebags good for nothing but ripping off naive local bands night after night to make their cash.

With that in mind I sincerely hope for my sake if nobody else’s that So Many Dynamos are good enough to make the trip at least one more time.

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First guest post by King Kong Bundy

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TRACKS:

So Many Dynamos – The Novelty Of Haunting

Good to have you back at Cougar Microbes are marching in like army ants... Thanks for visiting!

“Hey B,

Here’s a quirky idea for a short film about you! Please not that all characters appearing in this work are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
D”

Here is some Israeli chill-pop from Metropolin.

TRACK:

Metropolin – Malahim

Today’s Sunday treat has been on rotation for some time Cougar HQ and I’m glad to finally expose the multi-talented Jaeger. The American (no location specified) sings, produces, remixes and DJs very much on her own terms and the results are evident from her internet presence.

Her own tracks sound like a bizarre cross between Kate Bush and The Knife with its moody keyboards, exuberant vocals and somewhat mystical vibes. Meanwhile her remix of ‘Reckoner‘ gives the track a tribal feel that is not  unappreciated.

Enjoy the sunshine, and enjoy Jaeger

TRACKS:

Jaeger – No Echo

Radiohead – Re Re Reckoner (Jaeger Remix)

Bonus: Jaydiohead – Reckoner Encore

Last week London based singer/songwriter Lail Arad was set a cool challenge by Q Magazine: throughout Wednesday she had to create a mixtape made entirely of legally downloadable tracks. It was awesome to find out that the Cougar post on Oddysey was included amongst an eclectic mix of great music.

For more information on the Challenge click here and also check out the final mixtape here.

Here are a couple of choice selections by Lail Arad, live gig review coming soon.

TRACKS:

King Charles – Love Lust

Lawrence Arabia – Apple Pie Bed

For a few years now the name Rosie Oddie has been popping up on those ubiquitous “Ones To Watch” lists and as a hot topic of conversation on the lips of friends in the know.

Having ditched the previous working title of ‘Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad’ for the slicker Oddyssey moniker the singer and her gang recently released their ‘Black America‘ EP.

The title track would be a suitably edgy sequel to Kim Wilde’s 80’s classic ‘Kids In America‘ almost 30 years from that singles original release . ‘Companion‘ starts of as an intimate affair and peaks into a full blown dramatic number that could easily be the next Bond theme.  ’Alan‘ takes on a retro 60’s quality and is suitably larger than life and satirical.

Rosie’s raspy delivery channels an unexpected and often brilliant cross between the styles and deliveries of Cerys Matthews of Catatonia fame, Róisín Murphy from Moloko and Paloma Faith managing to be both sassy and mischievous . In the meantime the band showcase a big confident sound that lends a theatrical (and dare I say almost burlesque) characteristic to their output.

Having demonstrated that they can be  larger than life on record now is time to for me to catch the London outfit live; if those same friends from before are to be believed this should be quite an experience.

TRACKS:

Oddyssey – Alan

The latest release from the mighty fine Dub Pistols crew extols the virtues of the illegal drug that no-one, including the police is really that bothered about. We’re not talking about Class A’s here or “Kate Moss-tins” as London’s finest rapper Rodney P. explains in the lyrics.

Lambs Bread, Collie weed, the Chronic or a Fatty Boom Batty if you’re a fan of tv s Spaced. Rodney P. recommends you light up your chalice in Buckingham Palace (or just about anywhere you like) while the band crank out a radio friendly tune that oozes carnival charm through the sound of steel drums and reggae rhythms. The very sounds that usually see the residents of W10 running for their country retreats in fear of the invading marauders.

Despite the sunshine in the sounds the Notting Hill book club readers need not fear – there’s more than 6 months to wait until the real steel drummers will be pounding their streets like bombed-out, drugged-up versions of the Pied Piper, leading Ganja toting rats in tight packs behind them.

A Dub Pistols single release is always great value for money with each seeing a remix project that stretches the elements of the original song, often into totally unknown territory. This is no exception and while some of the offerings here add little other than to make the original mix sound all the more refreshing, the Sunday Best mix is well worth a listen and the 2 Bit Thug remix adds a few more beats for your bucks.

Remember kids, just say maybe.

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First guest post by the affable Stephen Chancer

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TRACKS:

Dub Pistols – Ganja (2 Bit Thug Remix)

Dub Pistols (Sunday Best Cosmic Dub Remix)