I Hate Christmas by Three Litre - Record of the Week!

It's that time of year again... the week when we can have more than one record of the week! And, where we can indulge ourselves and pick tunes and songs chosen previously. So, to kick it all off we bring you an Indie classic that should have been a smash back in 2002.

Now, don't be fooled by the title, it's not quite as throwaway as it at first appears to be given the title...

But I won't spoil it too much for you; you have a listen and see what you think for yourselves.

This is one of my all time festive favourites. It combines melancholy, humbug, longing, hopes, dreams, a wry smile here and there along with all the trimmings of sleigh-bells, church-bells and a choir. Yet it starts so simply with that acoustic intro that gets stung by that chiming electric guitar after the first line.

Very merry stuff. And don't you get me started on New Year!

You can buy this on CD at amazon...
Or on eBay...

Find out more about Three Litre...
Drowned in Sound review of this single...
A Guardian (yes, the Guardian) review of the single...
Track featured in this Christmas Mixcloud mix...

Festive Record of the Week

I Hate Christmas
Three Litre





OK. Yes... I DID choose this last year as well. Probably will again next year too. But its one of my festive faves, hasn't been heard enough and is very worthy of a place on the nations's endless Christmas playlist we get assaulted with from the end of October each year in the shops...

Anyway...

Don't be fooled by the title, it's not quite as throwaway as it at first appears to be...

But I won't spoil it too much for you; you have a listen and see what you think for yourselves.

This is one of my all time festive favourites. It combines melancholy, humbug, longing, hopes, dreams, a wry smile here and there along with all the trimmings of sleigh-bells, church-bells and a choir. Yet it starts so simply with that acoustic intro that gets stung by that chiming electric guitar after the first line.

Very merry stuff. And don't you get me started on New Year!

You can buy this on CD at amazon...
Or on eBay...

Find out more about Three Litre...
Drowned in Sound review of this single...
A review of their gig with The Darkness...
Velocity Recordings Three Litre page...

Record of the Week

Delphonic
by Broken Glass Heroes



This really IS the Record of the Week or month here at NotJust Towers. Frantic web searching was employed following the second episode of ITV's new-ish comedy 'Off Their Rockers' to find out more about the song used over the closing title.

And this is it. Belgian duo Broken Glass Heroes's 2010 single 'Delphonic'.

It's a lovely piece of short, simple, sweet, downtempo-esque, lazy guitar driven music paradise. The soft vocal harmonies overlay it all with a tinge of sadness yet a realisation and acceptance of life and time's continual march.

Lovely stuff.

Buy the album on CD from Amazon...

Record of the Week

Sedated
by Choir of Young Believers

We, along with many others I am sure, were introduced to this band courtesy of someone's brilliant decision to use their 'Hollow Talk' as the theme tune to Danish crime-thriller The Bridge and seen in the UK on BBC4.

Didn't take us here at NotJust Towers long to add a copy of the album it was from to the collection. And as excellent as the aforementioned track it all was --and is -- too. Another one of those records that is able to take multiple plays. So, when the follow up to 'This Is For The Whites In Your Eyes' made an appearance that too was obtained.

And if '...Whites...' was extremely enjoyable then 'Rhine Gold' was just... stunning. Some of the bass on here is just breathtaking, the sounds haunting, edgy yet with a downtempo, chill-esque enough feel for them to be great work accompaniment.

This track is one of those in which that bass guitar stars, but listen to the piano in there too.

I do hope you like this. A band worthy of a much wider audience (aren't they all?)... but really, they are.

The record company don't want any of us to embed this video in a blog so follow the links to listen. Hope you enjoy it...



Buy on the CD from Amazon...
Download now from iTunes...

Record of the Week

Stroh 80
by Casual Sex



The Only Way is Essex crowd attempted an 80s theme-night at a roller-skate park recently but we go back a bit further with this weeks' Record of the Week.

Some people say Bowie, some say Roxie. Let me tell you there is nothing wrong with sounding like either. This record gives a hint of some of those early seventies guitar driven affairs, but it has its head firmly in the 21st century via a definite taste of Pulp thrown in for good measure.

But don't let that, or the bands name (hopefully a tribute to Ken and Duane Bishops famous duo Raw Sex?), put you off having a listen.

Buy on 7" vinyl from Amazon...
Download now from iTunes...

Record of the Week

Caught Wheel
by Your Twenties



Sometimes there are those tracks your hear, are very impressed, entranced and that tune stays with you -- in your head and heart -- from that moment forward. Well, this is one such tune.

The Marc Riley played this bands' 'Billionaires' earlier in the week and, while a worthy contender for RoTW all it did was remind me of this offering and I now can't stop playing it on the turntable of my mind.

It has all the indie charm you need and the video just sums-up the whole affair. It doesn't go on too long and, when its finished it needs a repeat play so you can hear that chorus again and this time join in.

Another track that would get six stars if iTunes allowed it.

Download now from Amazon...
Download now from iTunes...

Record of the Week

Topknot
by Cornershop



I first heard and became entranced by this when originally released as a single back in 2004 and Rob da Bank played it to us all.

Featuring the vocals of 'unknown' Lancashire-based housewife Bubbley Kaur, it finally appeared on the bands 2011 album 'Cornershop & The Double 'O' Groove Of'.

I find it just so mesmerising and can play it on repeat for a long time each and every time. Listen to that enchanting and groovy guitar sound... Hope you like it too.

Download the single from iTunes...
Buy the CD from Cornershop...

Record of the Week

Yoro Diallo
by: Egyptian Hip Hop



Was between this tune and something else but this had invaded my dream space and I awoke whistling it so...

With a sound reminiscent of Fripp and friends in 80s-era King Crimson, Manchester outfit Egyptian Hip Hop deliver some mesmeric music. I can't find out too much about it, but does anyone know if its an ode to an African musician?

Anyway, I like this a lot and thought you might too.

Download now from iTunes...
Buy the album at Amazon...
Follow the band on Soundcloud...

Record of the Week

White Noise
Milk & Biscuits



First ROTW of the 2013 and it's something that I think has that quintessential, English Indie-ness to it.

The vocals, the pastoral, summer Sunday drums and rhythm, a bit of music-box, flute(?). Lovely and delightful. And all finished off with something a bit different but still in keeping with the rest of the song.

Download now from iTunes...
Talk to the band on Twitter...