Gosh, that is a man sitting on a woman who is trying to dance, isn’t it?  Isn’t that a bit sexist, or oppressive, or something?  Maybe the man was feeling a bit faint, and there was nothing to sit on, and the lady offered herself as a seat.  Anyway, here’s what’s needed to know:

To celebrate the launch of our new shop Uncharted Audio presents Dance Audit Hour: a FREE compilation featuring previously unheard rarities, remixes and alternate takes. Yes, we did say free. Free as in zero money.

DAH features the following wondrous occurrences:

* Cursor Miner implores you to Leave It Out
* John Callaghan spreads the love
* Cyan341 reworks one of his recent dub-techno smashes
* LJ Kruzer critically examines Line’s genetic heritage
* The Council Flats of Kingsbury do Something
* PLUS the long awaited return of Langer, and much MUCH MORE!

We’re also giving you 20% off any physical or digital release purchased from the new shop; use the code “DAH20” when checking out to receive your discount. You can use this code as many times as you like (feel free to tell all your friends too) but please note that this offer expires on October 17th 2010 and some items are perilously close to deletion.

Download Dance Audit Hour in the format of your choice:
http://bit.ly/dah20

Buy things, lots of nice things, from the all-new superpowered Uncharted Audio shop:
http://bit.ly/uashop

SATURDAY 8TH MAY
Techno, bass, far-out warehouse sounds

Cyan341 (live) + The Council Flats of Kingsbury (live) + Langer (live) + DJ’s Kone-R & Stayhome

Uncharted Audio return to Ginglik, a venue with which it has had close ties over the last six years, to bring you three live acts from its roster, as well as dj support from Ginglik resident and label head honcho Kone-R and special guest Ginglik resident Stayhome… expect only the finest techno, bass, bleeps and far-out warehouse sounds – with that uniquely Uncharted angle!

And just to mention, you can stream the Council Flats of Kingsbury album for free here, and if you like it you can buy it on vinyl direct, from all good indie stores, or download it from just about any digital music provider.

The Voodoo Pins met at their local boozer, The Bald Faced Stag, which resides at the edge of the Willow Tree housing estate.
It’s a place where everybody knows your name, but not necessarily for the right reasons.  It’s here you will find brooding lead singer, Charlie Cockroach propping up a shadowy corner of the bar, staring through the optics on a memory that will haunt him ’til death .

Bassist, Chrissy Whiplash, has a quiet moment filing her nails over a gin and tonic, having driven another man off the rails.  Her indifference is for all to see.  Guitarist, Kal Kamikaze, wipes the blood from her knuckles having dealt with an outsider who looked at her man.  Colin Carnivor, the psychologically abused, idiot drummer, works at the pub collecting glasses, and is repeatedly told off for staring out the window, and eating all the pork scratchings.

All members of the Voodoo Pins have an intertwined past that sounds like a post watershed Eastenders style soap opera set in the most neglected suburbs of London.  The sordid squaller in which they live is at the foundation of their sound, as is the ever present animosity amongst the group, even when performing on stage there’s the feeling that an argument may erupt at any moment.

The lyrics are engrossing, and express mundane occurrences and emotions in the form of simple, yet unique metaphorical angles.  Reoccurring themes include depraved living, domineering sex, drugs, and the frustration, or romanticism, of being a loser.  The musical arrangement is basic and to the point, but totally effective. Evil riffs play on point with primitive drums, and Charlie Cockroach screams poetic gripes about his everyday challenges from the perspective of a survivor still striving to get his kicks, with feeling and frustration.

The Voodoo Pins – Favorite Nasty Habit

Or download it direct from here

The Voodoo Pins play tonight at Tommy Flynn’s  in Camden.  Or catch them soon by checking their myspace

Or i could start a group that would be popular, would get lots of members, and make some money out of it.  Nothing wrong with that, if your providing a good service, why not?  That’s what people do here.  I attended a live drawing burlesque themed group.  It cost £10 to participate, lasted about 3 hours, in the back end of a pub in Soho.  It’s the only meetup i’ve been to, i went because a mate who’s an illustrator was going, not to lust over the model.  I  enjoyed it, drew lots of rubbish, but I really tried and one came out ok.

There’s also more local community orientated groups and, well, this is not an advert but they probably explain its potential better than i could:

http://meetupblog.meetup.com

My knee jerk reaction when i came across it was to create a group, get like minded losers together and create a cool band – making money was not the motivation.  What happened was the people who joined the group tended to be outgoing, intelligent, mature types probably expecting a group leader with years of experience in theater and music, who would lead them to musical nirvana each week through impeccably organised 3 hour sessions, at the end of which everyone would agree that it was lovely, and would definitely attend the following week.

Nowt wrong with that sort of thing. I just misunderstood the meetup concept.  I couldn’t lead these people . I don’t have the experience, people managing skills, if anything the only experience that comes near to being relevant for the role is maybe contributing towards a good jam between, at most , 4 people,  providing some coherent  musical direction whilst being stoned on class A weed.

So I never fulfilled my pledge.  What was i thinking?  The group is now closed.

Here’s the brief:

“Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained”
William Blake

I’ve started this group with the goal of getting people together to enjoy playing and singing as a collective, to learn, and to create music with a mystical feel. Simple and natural, yet mysterious and magical. Ultimately to be recorded, and for a one off performance.

The concept of the music: Suburban Mysticism

Spiritual, mystical and otherworldly, praising esoteric heavenly entities, performing rituals, casting magic spells, fulfilling ones own desires.

Whether you have any spiritual beliefs, or not, is beside the point, it’s a search for a mystical experience within the music. If you do have any interest in the metaphysical, perhaps you would like to contribute?

If you have a passion to play or sing, but have no formal training, then you are welcome.

Some musical intuition would be required from group members, and more advanced musicians are required to take turns in conducting sections of the ensemble, or themes and ideas (your ideas / arrangements are welcome), as well as performing.

To read on, and if your in the London area and are interested in joining, go to the group homepage:
London-Exotica-and-Mystical-Music-Workshop

Here’s part 0:

If you want to be notified of the next episodes via twitter, click here…. Or just check back, put a note in your diary…etc. Thanks to P and R at unchartedaudio for sorting this out.