Cougar Microbes

After answering the previous week’s call from Kendal Calling, it is on to Big Chill for team Cougar Microbes‘ next stop off in a marathon of summer festivals.

Right from the off this is the friendliest I have encountered yet. Stewards wish you a jolly good knees-up. Caterers willingly smile without gritting their teeth. Furthermore there is plenty of space to pitch your tent – and there are showers.

It is no secret that this year’s Big Chill is far from a sellout – the consequence of an ever-growing UK festival market which pretty much operates all year round. But those who have flocked to Eastnor Castle Deer Park are in for numerous great acts to wave their glowsticks to.

Fenech Soler get our procedings off to a start with their cool – sometimes too cool – synth-heavy pop. The tent packs out quickly with impressive hair-do’s and catchy hooks. There are far worse ways to start a weekend.

Next up we have received an anonymous tip that Wild Beasts are tearing up the main stage. Not to fear though, we’re soon nodding along to melodic tunes in the vein of a laid back Everything, Everything. Wild Beasts by name, master craftsmen by trade.

A brief visit to one of our friendly caterers and then back to the main stage. Empire of The Sun ‘wow‘ us with glam costumes, a glitzy stage show and quality pop before veteran dance legends The Chemical Brothers light up the night with an impeccable set.

Day two starts with a gratefully received four-pack of Lucozade delivered by a bleary-eyed Chemical Brothers fan. Our summer benefactors are certainly treating us well.

Today is wetter and greyer but there is still plenty of fun to be had. We try a spinny fair ride, immediately wish we hadn’t, and recover just in time for Metronomy. The Brighton outfit are great, but then we knew they would be. They draw mainly from albums ‘Nights Out‘ and ‘The English Riviera‘, showing off their quirky electro hooks and witty lyrics en route to crowd pleasing closer ‘Radio Ladio‘.

Escaping the gloriously unpredictable weather we head for Juke Joint, a deep south barn themed tent. It feels authentic enough and as DJs spin tidy tunes we sip on a delectable Southern Comfort cocktail. Just the one – we’re working.

Saturday’s headliner is Kanye West who has the crowd howling with disapproval after turning up half an hour late. He somehow wins most people over – citing vocal troubles as his excuse for lateness – then goes on an inexplicable 20 minute rant. He raves about his music videos, boasts about awards, attacks the press and likens his public image to that of Hitler. Cue more howls of disapproval. Nonetheless his performance, when it comes, is fairly spectacular.

The final day of our festival extravaganza is peppered with heavy rain showers. However, this is no reason for the fun to stop. We spend a very pleasant half hour watching PJ Harvey‘s Let England Shake film – in a tent – before scoffing some tea and cake chez Mr Scruff.

Then it’s on to the main stage to take in our final act of the weekend – legend Robert Plant and The Band of Joy. The seasoned local boy blasts out a great set drawn from a back catalogue that boasts Led Zeppelin classics. It is a perfect way to end a great weekend.

Cougar Microbes attended Big Chill 2011 in collaboration with Lucozade‘s Play Festivals campaign.

—–

Post written by Kenny

—–

TRACKS:

Fenech-Soler – The Cult Of Romance (Alan Braxe Remix)

WILD BEASTS – Bed Of Nails

The Chemical Brothers – Swoon (DJ Macabre’s Fantastik Remix)

METRONOMY – THE BAY (ROMERO REMIX)

Kanye West – Power

As summer continues to (slowly) flow in, so do fortunately music festivals ! Here is a fun and friendly festival that is worth having a look at !

Leefest is taking place on the beautiful rural location of Higham Hills Farms, Bromley, South East London and is happening on the 12-14th August.

Marked by the medley of artists it welcomes : famous acts such as British Sea Power, Fenech Soler, Young Knives, Foamo, DJ Fresh or The Whip just to name a few, it also gives the chance to young talented local acts to perform in front of an audience of 2000 people. Indeed, Leefest has carefully chosen 13 breakthrough acts out of 200 applicants, bringing you the very best of the next generation.

Leefest is also about more than just music, and offers a wide range of activities such as a graffiti performance, sculptures and installations, a campfire and a healing and massage area, as well as hosting the intriguing ‘Wonderland‘. For just 55 £ the weekend… I say it is definitely worth it.

To add to the fun, LeeFest, which has started six years ago as a back garden festival, is celebrating the growing number of portaloos by launching ‘VIPee‘ which will give guests the chance to bid for four festival tickets with all proceeds going to the Kids Company Charity. The winning bidder will earn the title of ‘VIPee‘ of Leefest 2011 and gain access to their very own red carpeted and treat-filled portaloo for the weekend !

As a non-profit music festival the organisers are dedicated to authenticity and supporting up and coming bands.What should be remembered about Leefest is their strong dedication to ethos and their approach to music. The festival is about the love of music, having fun, and giving opportunities to unsigned bands, and all that in a genuinely good and friendly spirit.

—–

Post by Olivia

—–

TRACKS:

David E Sugar’s output sounds a little like a fusion of Hot Chip and Calvin Harris combined with some tongue-in-cheek sleaze and some 70s inspired funk; but before you hold this against him, the tracks are actually consistently good.

As well as having two tracks featured on the legendary Kitsuné compilations he has also been touring hard sharing stages with the likes of  Deadmau5, Hadouken and Digitalism. We’re also told he was a pioneer of “Chip-Tune” (synth sounds derived from a video game or console sound chip) but thankfully his synth sounds are more Crystal Castles than Commodore 64.

Irrespective of his past and moving on to his present this latest indie- electro- pop sound works and it will make you want to dance and at the very least get your feet tapping. His vocal style has an almost lassiez-faire attitude to reminiscent of Jarvis Cocker and he combines it with some bitter lemon spitter lyrics which wouldn’t be out of place on a Kate Nash single.

He’s certainly gaining praise from mainstream names such as Kissy Sellout and Jesse Rose and his signing to Cougar faves Sunday Best should help catapult him into the spotlight. He also managed to draw and an impressive crowd at Bestival’s Arcadia stage earlier this month and is likely to do the same on tour with Fenech-Soler later this month. My advice to you? Keep an eye on the boy.

—–

Post by the workaholic Ruby

—–

TRACKS:

David E Sugar – [Disco Of Doom Remix]

Hailing from Hemel Hempstead, a stones throw from London, The Dufflefolks are not your average peddlers of Casio infused art.

True; the four-piece layer synthesised drum patterns, with laidback melodies and minimalist instrumentation. However they do so with an effortless nod to The Postal Service, LCD Soundsystem, Passion Pit and Fenech-Soler and without a hint of formulaic predictability.

This lot are yet another exciting British prospect to keep a very close eye on. Enjoy.

—–

Post written by Kenny the Ref hater

—–

TRACKS:

The Dufflefolks – Thomas Crapper

The Dufflefolks – Homegrown

To follow up on the Fenech-Soler track posted earlier week here is a sweet remix of the single ‘Stop And Stare’by italian crew Reset!

Boom!

TRACKS:

Fenech-Soler – Stop And Stare (Reset Remix)

Cougar Microbes approved dirty synth peddlers (try saying that quickly) Fenech Soler are back with new single ‘Stop And Stare‘ due out on Moda Music in April. The track is a follow up the excellent ‘Lies‘ single featured on these pages back in November.

The band just played Barcelona and will be hitting Paris later this month, after which its back to exotic Lancaster and Burnley before a blowout in London on the 23rd.

Check out the bands myspace for further dates and check out this cool video for the track.

TRACKS:

Fenech Soler – Stop And Stare

It is December and people are already compiling their end of year (and indeed end of decade) “Best Of” lists. I started thinking about mine way back in August which probably says more about me than it does about the quality of music released in 2009.

While I separate the contenders from the also-rans here are some fun covers from VV Brown and The Maccabees that I appreciated in the last few months.

As a bonus, seen as the Fenech-Soler post yesterday went down well I’ve also added a link for the remix of ‘Lies‘ by The Phantom Revenge.

Lastly, if you havent already joined the Cougar Microbes on facebook what are you waiting for?

TRACKS:

The Maccabees – Boom Boom Pow

VV Brown – Day & Night

Monday morning, rainy London, another week and soon another month. Here is a little morale booster: the video for Fenech Soler‘s excellent single ‘Lies‘.

Sounds like The Black Ghosts electro groove crossed with Friendly Fires‘ pop sensibilities.

Ideal for ignoring your co-workers if you are not in the mood for idle chit chat.

TRACKS:

Fenech Soler- Lies