Live music listings: April 2008

Doors 7.30
£10 via WeGotTickets

America’s finest purveyors of lush, formalist pop music, The Ladybug Transistor formed in Brooklyn, NY during the mid-1990s, where they soon came to the attention of Merge Records. Since then they have released six perfectly formed albums, including the classic trilogy of The Albemarle Sound (1999), Argyle Heir (2001), and The Ladybug Transistor (2003), and developed and honed their trademark sound - a distillation of classic pop, characterized by a precise melodicism that is anchored by the restrained baritone of Olson. Recently the band also contributed to Soft Machine legend Kevin Ayers’ critically acclaimed album Unfairground. Their own new album Can’t Wait Another Day (on Fortuna POP! in the UK) continues the Ladybug Transistor’s gradual shift away from their somewhat psychedelic beginnings towards a more open, timeless sound and features contributions from members of The Aislers Set, Architecture in Helsinki, The Clientele, Jens Lekman and Kevin Barker (Currituck Co., Vetiver). Much like the band themselves, it is, in every sense, classic.

“The finest baritone warble in indie rock, unfailingly catchy pop tunes and perfectly pitched melancholy ballads… the Ladybug Transistor's best work equals the best pop music made at any time in the past 50 years.” (Can’t Wait Another Day review, All Music Guide)

The Beep Seals formed many moons ago thanks to a mutual admiration of each other and a shared love of various things predominantly the rock band Pavement, visionary demi-god Todd Rundgren, the Animal Collective, long walks on rainy days, the sound of a really good fuzz pedal and the Beatles (obviously). Spending 2007 touring some of the world and cultivating a fearsome live reputation centred around the best drummer since Animal from the Muppets and vocal harmonies that'd make Brian Wilson punch Carl in the face; the Beeps somehow managed to release two sold out singles of pure psych-slacker pop as well. They are currently recording their debut longplayer with Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub at the controls.
"This could have been air-freighted from Athens, Georgia by Neutral Milk Hotel and gives you a feeling of endless summers and the gentle buzz" (SoundsXP)

Amor De Dias featuring Lupe Núñez-Fernández (Pipas) and Alasdair Maclean ( The Clientele) are a new pop superduo featuring Lupe from Pipas and Alasdair from The Clientele promising both Spanish guitar versions of Clientele songs and new songs from both protagonists. They are currently recording with Ken Brake of Louis Philippe and Denim fame and, despite not so much as a note being heard, wild internet speculation suggests that they sound like Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa - a South London Domingo.

Opening proceedings are Beep Seals who formed many moons ago thanks to a mutual admiration of each other and a shared love of various things; predominantly the rock band Pavement, visionary demi-god Todd Rundgren, the Animal Collective, long walks on rainy days, the sound of a really good fuzz pedal and the Beatles (obviously). Spending 2007 touring some of the world and cultivating a fearsome live reputation centered around the best drummer since Animal from the Muppets and vocal harmonies that'd make Brian Wilson punch Carl in the face; The Beeps somehow managed to release two sold out singles of pure psych-slacker pop as well. They are currently recording their debut longplayer with Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub at the controls.

"This could have been air-freighted from Athens, Georgia by Neutral Milk Hotel and gives you a feeling of endless summers and the gentle buzz" (SoundsXP)

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