Victorian Horror

What what.

2011-08-05T20:23:00.004-05:00

So I've been arrested for blog-neglect.
I've got a busy schedule coming up so I'm planning on eschewing victorianhorror.com for a while in favor of reblogging other people's stuff on Tumblr, retweeting other people's stuff on Twitter, and making Spotify playlists instead of Victorian Horror mixes.
First of all... here's where to find me on Spotify

And here's my Tumblr, it's not all music, there's silent film things, and other bits and bobs I'm interested in. I'll probably put any new show recaps on here too. Victorian-horror.tumblr.com

And here I am on Twitter: twitter.com/victorianhorror (warning: Inanity abounds here)

Have you all checked out Damon Albarn's new project DRC Music? It's going to be wicked!

Working For A Nuclear Free City, B.A.R.R.Y

2011-06-23T19:57:00.001-05:00

New video from their great 2010 album Jojo Burger Tempest. I love this and so should everyone.

Blur may reunite again for shows in America...

2011-06-22T19:55:00.004-05:00

Annnnnnd that's my main take away from this quite informative Dr. Dee piece in the Guardian.

"Blur, he says, may reunite again, to play their old songs in the US, though when I ask him about the possibility of new Blur songs, I get a mumbled "don't know"

Please make this be an actual thing that happens, and not at Coachella, New York I can do. Chicago, yeah, obviously...

The whole interview actually does a really nice job of explaining Dr. Dee. Here it be.

Thanks to Pitchfork and Brenna for the heads up, and curses to my busy day which prevented me from seeing this until 8PM IN THE EVENING!

Damon Albarn performs "Applecarts" from Dr. Dee

2011-06-19T09:45:00.005-05:00

Watch his performance on the Andrew Marr show here. Beard.

This isn't Paris, it isn't London, it's not Berlin, and it's not Hong Kong. It's... Torquay?

2011-06-14T17:34:00.003-05:00

Ha ha, how did they make Torquay look this good? It's like Duran Duran in Rio or something. Wait, is that an empty Walkers crisp packet blowing in the wind behind them? (Kidding.)
The lovely Metronomy in lovely? Torquay.

It feels so good, in the bay.

Victorian Horror Mix 8

2011-06-13T13:50:00.003-05:00

Time for another mix. Lovingly smooshed together in one continuous track so you have to annoyingly either listen to it all in one go, or skip through like an old cassette tape... Yer welcome.
This one's heavy on the Wild Beasts and Metronomy, what can I say? I like what I like.
Here it is.

On this edition:
1. Metronomy- We Broke Free
2. Wild Beasts- Loop The Loop
3. The Horrors- Still Life
4. Little Dragon- Nightlight
5. King Creosote and Jon Hopkins- Bubble
6. Wild Beasts- All The King's Men (Banjo Or Freakout Remix)
7. Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi- The Rose With The Broken Neck
8. Cat's Eyes- Over You
9. Porcelain Raft- Dragonfly
10. Wild Beasts- Vigil For A Fuddy Duddy
11. Metronomy- Not Made For Love (Astronomers Remix)
12. Gorillaz- California And The Slipping Of The Sun

Damon Albarn talks about Dr. Dee "English opera" on Radio 4

2011-06-07T10:46:00.003-05:00

Look at me, writing on my blog about Damon Albarn! It's like old times isn't it? Here's an interesting wee chat about the frankly, confusing project Dr. Dee. I'm sure it'll only really become clear exactly what it is once it's been seen. I agree wholly with Mr. Albarn's comments about the dichotomy between being a proud Briton, but then feeling a bit guilty for it because it's not a very "modern" response.
I, as well as Damon, went through a week of extreme patriotism during the Royal wedding. I thought it may have had more to do with being a British ex-pat and how all those feelings get distilled when you're living thousands of miles away. You tend to romanticize the country you left. However, it seems that even the most modern of thinkers (I don't think it's a stretch to call Damon that) felt the same way too. In this interview, he talks about the moment when everyone sang Jerusalem at the wedding and honestly, it was one of the most stirring moments I've seen. However, even in the emotional response you feel towards it, there's a sense that you're betraying a liberal modernity by embracing it... A sort of nationalistic guilt. It's an oddly British sentiment, people in America have no problem with the whole patriotism thing.
I for one, am no stranger to belting out Jerusalem at any available opportunity, it's just fun to sing.
Anyway, back to Dr. Dee Damon mentions that he actually performs in the opera, but not as a "character" as such, but more as a parallel to the end of Elizabeth I's reign, where the opera is set. He plays himself at the end (should we say that??) of Elizabeth II's.

So I've explained nothing other than inserting myself into the narrative! Here's the links for some, you know, actual information...

Dr. Dee BBC Radio 4

Damon Albarn and the Elizabethan magical mystery man.

Victorian Horror Mix 7

2011-05-29T13:12:00.005-05:00

Get it HERE!

On this edition:
1.Honey Townsend- The World Again
Something magical from my Wigan Casino compilation. Warning: Will make you dance like a loon.
2. Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi- The Matador Has Fallen
From the new album Rome. I was unsure about this since it's got Norah Jones and Jack White on the album, which is all a bit Grammys for my taste. I was wrong, it is brilliant.
3. Working For A Nuclear Free City- Brown Owl
Will I ever shut up about WFANFC? No, no I will not. From last year's Jojo Burger Tempest. Perhaps the most underrated album of 2010.
4. The Radio Dept.- It's Personal
From their Pet Grief album, an oldie but goody.
5. Kwes- Canary
From his No Need To Run EP. Bonkers.
6. Burial- Forgive
If you find yourself watching Adam Curtis' brilliant documentary All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace, you might also find yourself revisiting Burial.
7. Ralph Vaughan Williams- Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis- London Symphony Orchestra
Yep all 17 minutes. Listen, we're having epic storms today and I felt like a bit of sweeping music to soundtrack it. Also, might need a raft...send a raft.

The picture I used for my wee mix is totally nicked from this great blog.

Tame Impala covering Massive Attack 5/3/11

2011-05-06T21:43:00.000-05:00

British Sea Power, Lincoln (Valhalla Dance)Hall 3/27/11

2011-03-28T01:09:00.007-05:00

British Sea Power turned little old Lincoln Hall into Valhalla Dancehall last night. This is the third time I've seen BSP, and while this show lacked the bonkers shenanigans of the first time I saw them at the Logan Square Auditorium in 2005, it made up for it with a polished rock-fest. (Yeah, I said rock-fest, smirk if you like.)

I love everything about British Sea Power: Their odd little outfits with trousers tucked into socks giving an awkward look of giant cankles, their love of nature (specifically, yanking the arms off of trees), how tiny they all are (seriously you could put them all in your pocket), but most of all I love their music. British Sea Power are probably the only band that could fuse esoteric references to British flooding disasters in Essex, Antarctic ice shelves, and George Orwell with gargantuan rock anthems. Over five albums they've gone from punk to post-punk, from rock to ambient, and back to rock again. Whatever path they take next, I'll be there with them (providing they don't un-tuck their socks).

Ok, I had to edit this to add a picture of my British Tea Power mugs I got at the merch table. This band has the best merchandise, ever.

Upcoming Shows

2011-02-20T14:06:00.004-06:00

With no Damon Albarn projects on the horizon, it's time to breathe a little, stretch out, and resume normal Victorian Horror programming. With that in mind, here's a wee taste of some bands headed this way.

On Tuesday, Porcelain Raft is opening for Tennis at Lincoln Hall

Then, on March 27th I'll be seeing British Sea Power in all their maritime glory (also at Lincoln Hall)

On May 3rd I'll be back once again at Lincoln Hall to see Tame Impala and Yuck

Gorillaz haven't broken up.

2011-02-09T17:19:00.001-06:00

"Despite rumours to the contrary, Gorillaz are alive and well and misbehaving in London W10."

Pitchfork

The Radio Dept. Empty Bottle, Chicago 2/8/11

2011-02-09T09:18:00.004-06:00

It was a very Swedish night in Chicago yesterday. It was freezing, literally, and we've still got 2 feet of snow on the ground. To top it off, The Radio Dept. played two shows at the Empty Bottle, or should I say the "Tom Flaska". If only I'd got those cool clog boots for Christmas, I would've been golden.
Lovely.

Gorrillaz Split, Status of Gorillaz, However, Unknown.

2011-02-07T08:52:00.003-06:00

EEEK! International pop-cartoon-band Gorrillaz have split according to reports. Burdok and Toodle apparently became embroiled in an irreconcilable argument.
"But what of Gorillaz?" You cry! Well some tabloid in the UK called "The People" reckons they've split too! But insanely keeps calling them Gorrillaz (mistaking them, no doubt with that other international pop-cartoon-band.)
Is this the end for our intrepid heroes?
Read a scan of the article at gorillaz-unofficial. They've also got their legion of commenters on the case, looking into the facts, reading Jamie's 14 year-old son's updates... All whilst softly crying into their keyboards. It's a sad day for cartoons, maybe.
As of this minute, I believe that it might be curtains for Gorillaz, but not due to acrimony. I mean, Plastic Beach and The Fall were never a dead cert. anyway. It was like a gift, to be cherished, but not too hard... stop gripping them so tightly... you're breaking them! Nooooo you've broken Gorillaz! What now? Guess you'll have to wait for that opera.

Little Dragon @ Lincoln Hall 1/16/11

2011-01-17T16:31:00.003-06:00

I was hoping that last night's Little Dragon show would end up in a giant dance party like their set at 2010's Coachella Festival. I wasn't disappointed, and several of the songs veered wonderfully into full-on house-y dance fests building upon the more laid back vibes presented on their studio albums.

The crowd was slightly less willing to let loose, eschewing dancing for a more restrained head-nod/toe tap combo last seen employed by my Dad at a Waterboys concert.
I'm not exactly one to talk, I was there by myself so (to prevent a Robyn-esque corner dancing situation) I fully embraced the head-nodding restrained ethos of the night. Secretly, though, I was longing to go a bit crazy and try out some of Yukimi's bonkers dance moves. I refrained, mostly to save my fellow concert-goers the embarrassment of erroneously thinking I was suffering from an epileptic fit.

Here, made lovingly on my wee flip camera, are some videos from the show:

Gorillaz: The Fall

2010-12-28T21:32:00.005-06:00

I'm back from my small Christmas vacation, hope you all had a merry one, well, of course you did...Gorillaz gave you The Fall!
My family didn't quite understand the reason for my sprint towards the computer on Christmas morning, and they had mixed views on the album (which I insisted on listening to repeatedly). My mum said "that's a weird album Vic", my Dad said "Vic, what is this?", and my sister refused to allow it to be played on our car journey back to Raleigh until she had evaded the bad snow and ice. Apparently it's not conducive to hazardous driving conditions. Who knew?

I, of course, LOVE IT. It is definitely not what I expected. It's way more mellow than I thought it would be. It's a lot like Monkey: Journey To The West, very soundtrack-y. It also passes the perennial Damon Albarn question: "can you waltz to it?" One of my favorite tracks is "The Parish of Space Dust", and there's definitely major waltzage going on there. My other favorite track is "Revolving Doors." I'm just a sucker for the pretty vocal melodies and melancholy I suppose. I'm really glad this album materialized, I think there was a slight lack of this sort of spooky oddness on Plastic Beach.
I just arrived back to "Shytown" so this is just a wee off-the-cuff post to jot down my first thoughts. What did you all think? It's quite magical, no?

Of course you can listen (and download if you're a sub-divisioner) at gorillaz.com

Gorillaz - 'Phoner To Arizona '

2010-12-23T18:28:00.002-06:00

Oooh, here it is, the first song from The Fall (Gorillaz' new album that'll be streaming and down-loadable on Christmas day.)
It's spooky, and I think (quite possibly) totally awesome. I see a bit of Chi-town represented in Jamie's video too! I've been listening to a lot of ambient electronic odd stuff lately (you're welcome co-workers) so this is right up my alley.
I'm off to NC tomorrow, so won't be around to have a discussion group RE: The Fall until next week. I'm sure my verdict will be glowing, when have I ever disparaged anything Gorillaz-related? But just how glowing? You'll have to wait and see.
Happy Christmas y'all, I hope Father Christmas gives you some money.

Victorian Horror Best Show of 2010

2010-12-20T20:27:00.002-06:00

So it's an easy one this year. Gorillaz in Chicago wins, followed by Gorillaz at Coachella, then Massive Attack in Chicago. Yeah, so put a Damon Albarn on stage and I'll give it top marks. I promise next year I'll be less single-minded with my picks!
Honorable mentions go out to Fever Ray at Coachella, Pavement at Pitchfork, Gary Numan in Chicago, and Ariel Pink in Chicago.

The Fall: Sonic Tour Diary By Gorillaz, available for Sub-Divisioners (for free) on Christmas!

2010-12-20T10:14:00.003-06:00

I thought he said maple leaves
and when he talked about about The Fall
I thought he talked about Mark E Smith
I never understood at all...

A little bit of Jens Lekman there for you. So the Album is called The Fall and is about the season, not Mark E Smith. It's the end result of Damon recording in his spare time at the venues and hotels of these great United States of Ameerrrikkuh.
There's a song called "Shy-Town" which is totally about me, 'cos I'm shy and from Chicago (Chi-Town)...
Exciting!
If you're a Sub-Divisioner then you'll get it for free on Christmas, if not you'll be able to stream it, and it'll be released as a physical album later in 2011. EMI must get their pudding!

The full track listing is:

1. Phoner To Arizona
2. Revolving Doors
3. HillBilly Man
4. Detroit
5. Shy-town
6. Little Pink Plastic Bags
7. The Joplin Spider
8. The Parish of Space Dust
9. The Snake In Dallas
10. Amarillo
11. The Speak It Mountains
12. Aspen Forest
13. Bobby In Phoenix
14. California And The Slipping Of The Sun
15. Seattle Yodel

For more info, and a teaser video go to Gorillaz.com

Gorillaz perform "Hong Kong" in Hong Kong

2010-12-03T15:30:00.004-06:00

Dash it to hell! Why isn't my city called Hong Kong? Then they would've done this when I saw them. I should've petitioned to change Chicago's name to Hong Kong well before October. Funny that they played this there, of all places, I mean, it's like the song and the city are related in some bizarre way...
They could also have renamed this song "Chicago", just changed it about a bit. Damon could warble about the "...rise of a (Mid) Western sun".
Ah well, Ce la vie (I believe that's an old Cantonese saying, right?) Lucky bastards.
I'm bringing myself out of a self-imposed blog exile to paste this video into your lives. It's that good.
I love the live version of "Hong Kong" 'cause Damon adds an extra note to the end of the chorus-y bits (so that "the-ere" becomes "the-ee-ere" ) Bloody lovely if you ask me. (That is the chorus, right? To me it could almost be verse, bridge...then nothing.) I was disappointed on the Help and D-Sides versions when it was missing some syllables.
I'm such a sucker for a Damon Albarn ballad moment, and christ, is this a good one.

Thanks to Gorillaz-Unofficial's twitter for the link.

Gorillaz cover the XX's crystalized, anchors aweigh!

2010-11-20T11:09:00.005-06:00

What the heck giant anchor tattoo? How long's Damon had that for?
I have grown to love the XX so I'm quite pleased to see that Gorillaz are also fans. It's odd isn't it? Gorillaz: They're whatever they want to be, whenever they want. Wish my job was like that.
Here's some youtubes some kindly soul has uploaded from Radio 1's live lounge.

Here's Doncamatic, I really like this version, xylophone hero! I think Damon Albarn's xylophone face is the best thing I'll see today.

And, On Melancholy Hill.

Thanks to Gorillaz-Unofficial and somekindofawesome.com for the heads up and the videos.

New British Sea Power track: Living Is So Easy

2010-11-15T11:50:00.003-06:00

Victorian Horror favorites, British Sea Power, are offering up an edited version of the first single from their upcoming new album, Valhalla Dancehall. The track will be available to purchase digitally from 29 November. Sign up for their mailing list using the player below to get the mp3 link. Yesss! About a 10 on the excitement scale.

Gorillaz Doncamatic Music Video

2010-11-15T10:07:00.002-06:00

It's not all played out yet, Doncamatic's got a fancy new video. Daley's submarining his way to Plastic Beach, he's a bit late, but never mind eh?

Doncamatic (feat. Daley)

Gorillaz Featuring Daley | Myspace Music Videos

Perhaps the best thing on YouTube: Jim fixes it for a kid to perform with Gary Numan circa 1982

2010-11-13T14:17:00.003-06:00

Jim'll Fix It for you to ride around in Gary's bonkers wee car listlessly while he performs with a comedic disregard of your circling, vulture-like presence. All ominous like.

Another epic Jim'll Fix It was when this wee girl got to play with Madness! Madness! British tv used to be so cool. I always wanted to be on Jim'll Fix It. Instead I was on Going Live and received nothing for my troubles!

New Blur! iPad album! Congo! Flea! (the wacky world of Damon Albarn)

2010-11-13T13:51:00.007-06:00

Damon's recorded an album to be released before Christmas...On an iPad...On tour...In America. He's also met with Blur, planned a small project with them for January, launched Daley's career, planned a trip with Oxfam to the Congo, is working on an album with Flea and Tony Allen, solved the world debt crisis, annihilated the X-Factor, wished Shaun Ryder luck on I'm A Celebrity, baked a cake, written another opera, and gone shopping for more stripey jumpers. This was all before breakfast mind you. This afternoon he's going to relax and just rehearse for this little concert he's doing at the O2 tomorrow. Why, what were you going to do today?