BBC - collective - singles #156: arctic monkeys, the litt'lans, kelpe, brakes, lambchop

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arctic monkeys - (i bet that) you look good on the dancefloor

littl'ans - their way

kelpe - quick broken harp

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Fingers crossed...

Even given the astonishing precedents set over the years in the faster-faster-now!-now!-now! world of indie rock, the meteoric rise of Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys has been little short of astonishing. When rumours circulate that a band’s as-yet-unfinished album has been put forward for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, then you’d perhaps think it’d be time to raise one weary eyebrow to the sky.

But to paraphrase Flava Flav, do believe the hype, because Arctic Monkeys really are deserving of your fingers-crossed adulation. You want proof, oh ye of little faith? Then have an aural gander at both their new single (I Bet That) You Look Good On the Dancefloor (Domino) and our exclusive live session – then go and see what odds you can get on them taking the Mercury next year.

On a similarly headline-worthy tip, we have the heroically wayward Pete Doherty taking time out from biblical-scale lunacy to team up with Littl’ans for the surprisingly naive-sounding Their Way (Rough Trade). Pete apparently contributed his vocals by way of apology to Littl’ans mastermind – and ex-Add N (To X) member – Andrew Aveling, as he’d half-inched the original Littl’ans line-up in order to form Babyshambles. The cheeky chimp.

To Kelpe, aka Kel McKeown, who’s been steadily building a name for himself over the last couple of years amongst those who like their beats wonky, funky and folky. If you’re a newcomer to his dubbed-out, red-eyed sound, then the four-track Sunburnt Eyelids EP (DC) is a fine place to start. Imagine Four Tet after a couple of bongs and a couple of large brandies and you’re about there.

Back on planet Earth, we have Brakes (no “The” required, thankyouverymuch) raging hard against we’re-not-quite-sure-what on the riffed-up Ring A Ding Ding (Rough Trade). There’s quite a lot of this kind of angular, skinny-tie-sporting stuff about at the minute, and this perhaps isn’t the most attention-grabbing song of that ilk, but it’ll do until the next Futureheads single drops.

And finally, Lambchop have teamed up with electronica duo Hands Off Cuba to fashion the CoLab EP (V2/Cityslang), which boasts four tracks from Aw C’mon and No You C’mon reworked in an experimental, acid-fried fashion. If you sport a beard and own a trucker cap and some distressed denim, you need this.

Free download: get to know the uniquely trippy anger-rock stylings of much-admired Matador signings Seachange by going to their official website and half-inching an MP3 of their marvellous No Backward Glances. In all seriousness, what have you got to lose?

Joe Madden 13 October 05

All singles released on 17 October 05.

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Pete Doherty

post 10

comment by fatladywrestler Oct 31, 2005

Appreciate that daisy roots. I know what you mean about P. Doherty, his recent appearance with Elton John was just a shambles. I can see your point about Kate Moss - she needs to get away from this guy - in my experience if you are that close - well what chance do you stand?? Lets hope for the best, thanks again for discussing...flw x

Pete Doherty

post 9

comment by daisy-roots Oct 30, 2005

Yeah maybe your right, maybe i was a bit harsh. But i really cant see him as a musician, all i see is a junkie. From where i'm standing he doesn't seem to be trying to stop, but maybe he is, maybe that's just the press. But i defiantly dont respect him as a musician, he just sounds lazy. Well the modelling world sounds like utter crap! But the problem is that kate might get over it, but if her and pete stay together, and he doesn't step up his game a hell of a lot, Then kate is stuck, and she'll never get out of that world and neither will her daughter.

Pete Doherty

post 8

comment by fatladywrestler Oct 30, 2005

I think that is a bit harsh - I work with people who are involved with drugs, its not something people can just give up, their whole lifestyle revolves around the scene. Pete Doherty does come across as a w***ker, he has talent but doesn't give a s**t. Then again Kate Moss is a beautiful lady who 'got caught at it', by someone who was supposed to be a friend. A lot of models have commented that this is part of life in their world and she is the one to take to brunt of it for all the others out there who are still involved. At the end of the day she has recieved help - and I hope for her lovely daughters sake that she kicks it.......lets watch this space.

Pete Doherty

post 7

comment by daisy-roots Oct 30, 2005

Pete Doherty is a total waste of space! I dont think i could ever look at him and not think what a pathetic junkie. He really gets on my nerves, he is a sad loser who is wasting his life. If he dies of an overdose then serves him right. And the same goes for kate moss, it's her daughter i feel sorry for!