Claus - Pass the peri peri mate...

Santa was kind in 2010. Especially him of the secret variety. Unfortunately he wasn't on hand after the work do came crashing to a vicious close several hours later. It transpires that travelling from Hounslow to Hackney at half one in the am can take upwards of four hours. Especially if you get distracted by a bunch of scallies and stella on the way back. One of this year's resolutions is to spend less time asleep on public transport. Fingers crossed...

It's Christmas

Last minute non-festive review flex

Ahhh - nearly fucking made it to Christmas. Almost there. Let's cut to the fucking chase. Here's a pair of reviews recently knocked out - one's on the above Brandt Brauer Frick's debut album. It's like techno made on classical instruments and stinks of Matthew Herbert's under arm. Which is a good thing innit.

Brandt Brauer Frick You Make Me Real album review

The other is on Sheffield's new guitar heroes, Starlings. I know!

Check that over here...

Starlings Weight in Gold review

Breton go Hemlock...

Breton are one of the many bright new hopes having their name bandied around by those who put great importance on lists - best of the year charts and big tings are cooking for next year charts are annual bookends for music lovers. You can't move for the fuckers. And, as you get older, and a little more weary, you find yourself seeing similar faces and similar sounds. I guess that's just the way it rolls...

Breton are one of those acts, who, right this minute, would probably give every A&R man in the universe a mad lob on. They possess an indie wail, a dubstep bounce and plenty of Foals-esque angles. You can check my review of their debut on Hemlock below...

Breton - Counter Balance EP review

Jacques and Jamie meet each other and head uptown

Get out the umbrellas. Suddenly big tunes are raining down faster than you can say 'cats, dogs and student protests'. It's suddenly pouring with bigness. Or I've just been slow on the uptake... I've been playing these on repeat for the last seven days. Jacques Greene is releasing shit on the likes of Night Slugs and Local Action. Jamie XX is the XX's steel pan head - Can't stop the rock...









Bonar Bradberry may have the best name in wide screen, cosmic disco but he's also got some serious music up his sleeve...



And although Kanye West posted this earlier in the year, I've only just found it...

Cirrhosis, mistletoe and wine

December is one of the most brutal months of the year when it comes to binging. As the countdown to Christmas hots up and the desire to be at work totally evaporates, drinking is everywhere. There is no escape. The only way round it is to gird one's organs, man up and get down to business. Clinky clinky.

'Business' began in earnest last week - Tuesday involved a text book post work binge which almost led to meeting a man about a dog somewhere on the other side of London. Thankfully the less manly (or more sensible) option of test tubes full of jager was chosen, which just about made Wednesday doable. Just.

The following evening saw us darkening the doors of Soho and the seedy environs of numerous haunts in and around Old Compton Street. The first boozer was overflowing with gazillions of bears and men in dresses. After numerous bickers and stellas, we ended up in GAY until way past a time approaching common sense for a school night. As you may or not expect, David Guetta was the main meal on the musical menu. Classix.

Thursday was the final school night session - flipping and reversing the campness and ripe sexuality of the previous evening for a dose of manliness in the form of the Pig's Ear Real Ale Festival in Clapton. The vibe wasn't men in dresses - more old, lonely blokes in shorts with facial hair sniffing down hard on ale nerdery. For these gents, ale is life. It was also pleasing to see that the purveyors of cheese sandwiches hadn't snuffed it in the year since the last event. Hats off to Neil and his unnamed mate. They've made it through another 12 months. Which, if every month suddenly takes on the boozey mantle of the festive period, could be unlikely for some of us. Eek...

Kabal on a mixtape flex

Many of the best nights out in Sheffield take place down the cracks of the city. So if you want to reach the heart of its electronic pulse, then you'll have to get on your hands and knees and stick your ears to the ground.

Kabal has been one of the longest serving, yet resolutely underground evenings the city has served up over the past ten years. With residents such as wafroed new boy Toddla T and Steel City rave veterans Pipes and the FMG, the evening has managed to consistently serve up a fresh sounding dose of music both old and new. And, by hosting events in a variety of backrooms, basements, warehouses, and even converted churches, the uniqueness of the location has always helped each Kabal add up to something much more than just another club night.

This 'clandestine night for party freaks' has a series of parties coming up as the end of the year hoves into view culminating in a massive do on new year at a secret location in Sheffield. To celebrate, they've posted these two mixes on their soundcloud.

You can stream them below - both are big but in different ways...

Kabal Mix NYE 2008 by Kabal Where?House Party

Solid Chunks of Chocolate City - Sheffield 2006 by Kabal Where?House Party