tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58677401421610714502024-03-13T21:29:54.459+00:00The Hair ThievesThe Hair Thieves are a duo from Shropshire UK, creating an eclectic mix of indie pop rock with a smattering of soundtracks, punk, rost rock and any other genre we think of on any given day.
2020 is the 20th anniversary and we still don't take this very serious at all.Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-20987485328041563652018-09-15T17:33:00.002+01:002018-09-15T17:34:59.350+01:00EP 10 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vI3-TmEUkIM/W50ZSSnZdfI/AAAAAAAAAo0/eRoR87K3dbcccQ5ocwIEfuf052fQZZeIwCLcBGAs/s1600/Hairthieves_EP10_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vI3-TmEUkIM/W50ZSSnZdfI/AAAAAAAAAo0/eRoR87K3dbcccQ5ocwIEfuf052fQZZeIwCLcBGAs/s320/Hairthieves_EP10_500.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Well, we have finally reached a milestone and are about to release our tenth EP. That will be 41 songs (for some reason, one of the EPs had five tracks not four), released, since E joined the band in late 2005.<br />
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EP10 will be released on October 12th 2018, on all good digital download sites and streaming services. We are still debating and researching, whether we are going to produce physical CDs or not. Tweet or Facebook us, if you are desperate for a physical copy.<br />
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<br />
<br />
The track listing is<br />
<ol>
<li>Silent Victory</li>
<li>Red</li>
<li>Tempus Fugit</li>
<li>Echo Two Nine</li>
</ol>
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You can listen and pre-order the EP using the player below.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="100" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=2094851799/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4a4a4a/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"></iframe><br />
More details about each track in the coming weeks before release.<br />
<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-57913145062215823382017-12-31T15:00:00.000+00:002017-12-31T15:00:40.077+00:00My Hometown - Official Video.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u73qlvetltY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u73qlvetltY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Forgot to blog this back in August. So here is the official video for <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Hometown</a> .<br /><br />Hope you all have a Happy New Year. Expect EP10 from us sometime in the spring.Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-79062678032846102012017-12-30T18:16:00.001+00:002017-12-30T18:16:50.371+00:00Rollasoc's Top Ten Albums of the Year.Time for my annual list of the top ten albums of the year. <br />
<br />
Rule is, I must have physically purchased the album and not just streamed it, so although I have enjoyed (and at some point will buy the cd and or vinyl or cassette) the likes of Bjork, King Creature, Alison Moyet, Slowdive, Daniel Cavanagh etc etc, they are all ineligable.<br />
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The other problem, is most of my music purchases have been back catalog stuff, For example, I have bought a few older The Pineapple thief albums and most of the Lunatic soul ones.<br />
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So anyway here is the top ten.<br />
<br />
10 - Dave Krezner - Static<br />
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9 - <a href="https://petemurphy.bandcamp.com/album/go-dark-album" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pete Murphy - Go Dark</a> <br /> Humm not sure there is a video for this, but you can listen on the bandcamp site via the link.<br />
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8 - The Pineapple Thief - Where we stood.<br />
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Should be higher really, but it is a live album.<br /><br />7 - Julianna Hatfield - Pussycat<br />
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6 - Goldfrapp - Silver Eye<br /><br /> <iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vWwT8uf0M34/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWwT8uf0M34?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />5- Gaz Brookfield - Solo Acoustic Guy<br /> <iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D1ycSgtxaiM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D1ycSgtxaiM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />4 - Lights and Motion - Dear Avalance<br />
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3 - Steven Wilson - To The Bone<br /><br /> <iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cNTaFArEObU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cNTaFArEObU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />2 - Paul Draper - Spooky Action<br />
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1 - Lunatic Soul - Fractured<br />
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So there you go, my top ten new albums of 2017. <br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-29749530975011999832017-12-02T16:45:00.002+00:002017-12-02T16:45:52.939+00:00EP9 and beyond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1634664560_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1634664560_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EP9 </a>was released last month and in all the excitement, we forgot to blog about it.<br />
<br />
In a break with tradition, this EP contains four instrumentals.<br />
<br />
1. Lies<br />
2. The Schemer of Schemes Part 1<br />
3. BHX<br />
4. A Minor Pulse<br />
<br />
<br />
Available now at all good download sites and streaming services.<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify:album:2UgBIC1C5xmuIkdpo2kZbf" width="300"></iframe>
</center>
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We did make a video for the track lies, using the game Kerbal Space Program.<br />
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<br />
Physical copies can be bought from out <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep9" target="_blank">bandcamp </a>store.<br />
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In other news, we are more than three quarters the way through finishing EP10. So expect that in the spring of 2018<br />
<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-12057408215736298162017-02-03T00:06:00.001+00:002017-02-03T00:09:46.277+00:00The Distance (Official Video) <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mdocv9ahMEk/WJLspSCsjWI/AAAAAAAAAho/Q356RMKLjJsN7dLY20bNLK0_4sGfZixlwCPcB/s1600/CMR_2426-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mdocv9ahMEk/WJLspSCsjWI/AAAAAAAAAho/Q356RMKLjJsN7dLY20bNLK0_4sGfZixlwCPcB/s320/CMR_2426-Edit-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
We are pleased to show you all, our new video for "The Distance".<br />
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This has been a bit of a labour of love, using Muvizu. <br />
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The big, third party, sets did not play well with the animation software, so it was a case of rendering bits of the video out and hoping they worked, since I was unable to re-open any saved files.<br />
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As a first attempt with new animation software, we are pleased with the results.<br />
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<br />
Expect some more Muvizu videos for other new and possibly older tracks over the coming months.<br />
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EP8 is now available on all decent streaming sites, Amazon, iTunes and <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> <br />
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Enjoy<br />
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<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-52572230960031779812017-02-02T08:35:00.000+00:002017-02-02T08:35:42.877+00:00EP8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdocv9ahMEk/WJLspSCsjWI/AAAAAAAAAhk/8KAWh5UcK2US1UwfISjd_Z-J7KxNTTLVACLcB/s1600/CMR_2426-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdocv9ahMEk/WJLspSCsjWI/AAAAAAAAAhk/8KAWh5UcK2US1UwfISjd_Z-J7KxNTTLVACLcB/s320/CMR_2426-Edit-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, pleased to announce that EP8 will be released on February 3rd 2017. <br />
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Available on all good streaming sites, Amazon and <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bandcamp.</a> <br />
<br />Click below for a sneaky peek!<br /><br />
<center>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=366614201/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="http://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep8">EP8 by The Hair Thieves</a></iframe><br />
</center>
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There are four new songs on the EP.<br />
1) The Distance <br />
2) My Hometown <br />
3) Hometown Heart <br />
4) Ludworth <br />
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<br />There is an unexpected theme running thorugh this EP of Home. Both of
us took part in a songwriting course last year, where we had to write a
song about our Hometowns. So this is our offerings. <br /><br />This theme permeated into Ludworth, which though an instrumental, is very close to home in many ways. <br /><br />Ludworth
is also a bit of a departure, in that there are no real instruments
played on it. Which was an interesting exercise, in the use of studio
technology within the software we use. <br />
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A very limited physical release is available at our <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> shop.<br /><br />Check back on release day for the video release of "The Distance".Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-61544740450393690842016-12-30T12:27:00.002+00:002016-12-30T12:27:51.403+00:00Rollasoc's Top Ten albums of 2016<br />
2016 has been a mixed year for me. Musically we have lost many great artists, but there is still great music to be had out there. <br />
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In the age of streaming, I have listened to probably more new albums this year than the last few, but to make it into my top ten, I must have physically bought the CD or Vinyl or Download. <br />
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I have been listening to a lot of ambient stuff this year. But playing catch up and listening to some oldies.<br />
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<br />
So here is a much more sparse than normal (three post) look at my top ten albums this year.<br />
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<b>Nearlys / disqualified.</b><br />
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Some great EPs this year from the likes of Paul Draper and Bryde. Looking forward to albums from them in 2017.<br />
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Paul Draper- Friends make the worst enemies.
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Bryde - Help Yourself
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Nearly made the top ten:-<br />
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David Bowie - Blackstar<br />
I will buy this at some point<br />
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Paul Simon - Stranger to Stranger.<br />
Another album I have listen to quite a bit this year, which I will buy sometime.<br />
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Garbage - Strange Little Birds - Glad to see the return of Garbage, need to listen to this more really, nothing currently standing out as classic.<br />
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Nils Frahm - Tag Eins Tag Zwei<br />
As with a lot of the ambient music I listen to, I probably won't end up purchasing it, since I am unlikely to listen to it at home, so streaming it, to help me concentrate at work is great.<br />
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Steven Wilson - 4 1/2 - disqualifed for being half an album.<br />
Steven Wilson - Transience - disqualified for being released on vinyl in 2015 then CD in 2016.<br />
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Beth Prior - Little Acts of Kindness - Acoustically I love Beth's music and her voice. As a band, this is more reggae that I normallt like. There are some great moments on it (like Fallen Trees and Certain things), but I keep going back to her acoustic outings. Sorry.<br />
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My Vitrol - The secret sessions - After too many years waiting for this album, I'm not sure it could ever live up to the expectation. I am liking this album, but need to listen to it more.<br />
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Madness - Can't touch us now.<br />
I have listen to this a couple times on Spotify, but only bought it yesterday. Too early to tell, if it should be in the top ten or not.<br />
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P J Harvey - The hope six demolition project - I really want to like this, but not liking it as much as her earlier work. The last two albums have been heavy going and not a great listen, to be honest.They are both good, just not great.<br />
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Jean Michel Jarre - Electronic 2- <br />
A continuation of JMJs collaborations project, this has been a nice
collection of tunes, with some artists I knew of (Cyndi Lauper, Gary
Numan, Julia Holter etc) and some I didn't know of (Siriusmo, Jeff
Mills, Rone). <br />
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Thinking I prefer volume 1 though.<br />
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So here goes, my 2016 top ten.<br />
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<b>10 Bat For Lashes - The Bride</b><br />
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I don't think this is as good as the last couple of albums, not sure if it is the concept or not that has restricted my love for this. Some great tunes, like Sunday love, but some forgettable ones (whose names escape me).<br />
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Bat For Lashes - Sunday Love
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<b>9 Blue Rose Code - ...And Lo! The Bird Is On The Wing</b><br />
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Another great album from Blue Rose Code. Beautiful lyrics and melodies. Just wonderful.<br />
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The only one of the top ten, that I managed to catch on tour this year, which is a bit dissapointing.<br />
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Blue Rose Code - Grateful
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<b>8 Heidi Browne - Holiday For your heart</b><br />
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Local (to me) girl Heidi releases another, just lovely lovely album. From the title track, via the beautiful "Under the weather". Great stuff.<br />
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Heidi Browne - Holiday For your heart
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<b>7 Radiohead - Moon shaped Pool</b><br />
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Radiohead are a starange band for me, I think I like them, I buy their CDs then rarely listen to them, (a bit like the Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics).<br />
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This album is an exception then, I have listen to it a lot since it has been released. It is a bit of a return to form in my eyes (ears). Plus how can you not love the Burn the witch video!<br />
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Radiohead - Burn the witch
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<b>6 The Anchoress - Confessions of a Romance Novelist.</b><br />
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Double dipped on the CD and have the vinyl version. Not obsessive at all?<br />
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After a couple of great singles in 2015, expectation was high and the album doesn't disappoint. From slow burning opening Long Year (which was a b-side) to the proggy title track an album of all potential singles. Not a massive fan of some of the swearing, but that might just be me getting old... ha ha<br />
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And why oh why wasn't "Once upon a lie" not on the deluxe version?<br />
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The Anchoress - You and Only You feat. Paul Draper
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<b>5 Iamthemorning - Lighthouse</b><br />
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Simply just another beautiful album from our favourite Russian Progmeisters. Though where are the intermissions? <br />
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Iamthemorning - "Lighthouse" feat.Mariusz Duda
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Iamthemorning - Chalk and Coal<br />
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<b>4 New Model Army - Winter</b><br />
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Been a casual NMA fan since the mid '90s. Seen them live a few times, though kind of lost touch with them over the last few years, so bought this on a whim, when I spotted it in HMV when I was browsing. <br />
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Blown away, with the album to be honest, up there with some of their best. Made me go back and buy some more of their back catalog.<br />
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New Model Army - Die Trying
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New Model Army - Winter<br />
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<b>3 Agnes Obel - Citizen of Glass</b><br />
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Sparse backing and simple melodies, just make a beautiful album. I'm a sucker for piano, strings and some electronica, so this albums ticks all the boxes and makes me very happy.<br />
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Agnes Obel - Familiar
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Agnes Obel - Golden Green
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<br />
<br />
<b>2 - The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness</b><br />
<br />
Initially, I didn't get this album, coming into their catlog late, with "All the Wars", the last two albums have both been departures from that more rocky style and have been slow growers. <br />
<br />
I think this is more like Bruce Soord's solo album, than The Pineapple Thief's early back catlog (which was more Radiohead crossed with The Smashing Pumpkins).<br />
<br />
I have grown to love this album though.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Pineapple Thief - In Exile
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8LTh10MHMOo" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
The Making of In Exhile
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e2qZ7yyNBu4" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
The Pineapple Thief - Tear You Up (Acoustic)
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-1awi26pBs" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<b>1 She Makes War - Direction of Travel</b><br />
<br />
I discovered She Makes War on a podcast by Andy Mort, talking about songwriting. So I checked out her music on Spotify and found I was listening to it everyday, so I have started buying her back catalog.<br />
<br />
Allegedly, this is ‘gloom-pop'. Lyrically beautiful, sonically light, I really do love this album, and have pretty much listened to it (at least partially) almost everyday since I bought it. There isn't enough ukulele in modern pop.<br />
<br />
Stargazing, is also my song of the year. I even worked out how to play it. (which is a rare thing for me to do).<br />
<br />
She Makes War - Stargazing
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
She Makes War featuring Tanya Donelly - Paper Thin
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TvKrLam3atI?list=PLvaYgwDGYaNKRH3kumD6dIP0qvTbKmyrC" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
So that was 2016. See you in 2017.Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-76899548445247018112016-12-03T11:13:00.002+00:002016-12-03T11:13:50.435+00:00Lies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yruDBbVJi8g/WEKcqArJWPI/AAAAAAAAAgo/NsrRWuHDFV8ymJwhBHGFJwekqvyIWrkKgCLcB/s1600/ep8_Lies_01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yruDBbVJi8g/WEKcqArJWPI/AAAAAAAAAgo/NsrRWuHDFV8ymJwhBHGFJwekqvyIWrkKgCLcB/s320/ep8_Lies_01.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The last few months have been a bit topsy turvy in the world of The Hair Thieves, due to some family and work commitments plus holidays. So progress has been a bit slow.<br />
<br />
EP8 has been recorded and is in the process of being mixed and mastered. <br /><br />This will be out in January 2017, though we will try and get the first track "The Distance" out around Christmas or New Year.<br />
<br />EP9 is currently being recorded. A couple songs are close to completion or completed. The first of these is the track "Lies" which has been released onto <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/track/lies" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> and a video has been made using the game <a href="https://kerbalspaceprogram.com/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kerbal Space Program</a>.<br />
<br />
Lies has also been released as a single to Amazon / <a href="spotify:album:5c01bLvNfHQgDg4fkvYvtI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify </a>etc.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />As you may notice, from the picture at the top, this release does not feature our usual manikin character. We have decided to retire him (and her) after ten years of being on our covers. (Nothing to do with Kate Bush using one on the cover of her <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LTHMSEI/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=ur2&tag=rhinocouk-21" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">live </a>album). We used to photograph physical manikins, before computer generating them for the last few covers.<br />
<br />
As some of you may know, I (rollasoc) dabble in <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rollasoc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">photography</a>. E suggested we use some of the smoke photography I did between 2007 and 2012. So the "Lies" image is from that period.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />I recently spent two evenings doing some new batches of smoke images. So I now have about a thousand images to choose from for further covers. The first has been edited.<br /><br />This may very well be the cover for EP8. <br /><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9Ew-U8vNbo/WEKiz_NTZbI/AAAAAAAAAg4/lC0O6c5jAFMw3kAhktGGNu0IXOq_PhXtACLcB/s1600/CMR_2426-Edit_NoTitles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9Ew-U8vNbo/WEKiz_NTZbI/AAAAAAAAAg4/lC0O6c5jAFMw3kAhktGGNu0IXOq_PhXtACLcB/s320/CMR_2426-Edit_NoTitles.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />I doubt it will be the last we see of the manikin though. We shall see.<br /><br />As we may have mentioned proviously. EP9 is likely to be all instrumental. <br /><br />Failing that, we might just gather the 8 instrumetals from the first 8 EPs, the four tracks written for EP9 and some really old Hair Thieves songs (Tilly, Fables and the Deconstruction, Cases of Conscience, Silverpit etc) and release a compilation of instrumentals as an album.<br /><br />We are undecided at this point.<br />
<br />
E has started writing for EP10. We have a little buffer of songs we could use, so we will go through these and see what is worth salvaging.<br /><br />Next blog will be about the song "The Distance" the lead song of EP8.<br /><br />
<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-5589231552053553282016-09-11T10:43:00.000+01:002016-09-11T10:43:02.130+01:00EP1 revisited.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y2BxSatuK0/Vct6AziPhtI/AAAAAAAAAb4/1SB0B7m3df8VdCgGQFOIIlE7gKOIE_-UACKgB/s1600/EP1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y2BxSatuK0/Vct6AziPhtI/AAAAAAAAAb4/1SB0B7m3df8VdCgGQFOIIlE7gKOIE_-UACKgB/s1600/EP1.png" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
2016 is the 10th anniversary of EP 1. Earlier in the year I had some time to reflect upon its release and to actually dig out the recorded files and see what state the projects are in, given the advancments of software in the last 10 years <br />
<br />
I tried this at the beginning of the year with, but our recording software
(Cubase) that has been updated many times, in the intervening
years and some of the plugins would no longer run. <br />
<br />
I knew the latest Cubase wouldn't open the project file from 2006 directly, since that format in no longer supported. I did have a converted copy, but wanted to go back to the actual last used version that we created the wav files to mastered from.<br />
<br />
<br />
So I had to go and find the version of Cubase we were using back in 2006. This was a little troublesome and meant I spent several hours in the loft looking for the original disks.<br />
<br />
This initally failed to install, due to the copy protection mechanism being updated. Luckily Steinberg (makers of Cubase) provide a new installer that bypasses the old copy protection on installation.<br />
<br />
We were also missing some virtual instruments and synths and
some effects, or (and this is the frustrating one), the latest version of the
virtual instrument had changed filename, so would not open nor tell me which
patches it used.<br />
<br />
So I have spent quite a few hours over
the last two months (and on and off for the last two years), trying to
track down all the old versions of virtual instruments and effects I
used back in 2006 / 2007 when we recorded the first couple of EPs.<br />
<br />
I
think I am pretty much there now. I have managed to open all four tracks from EP1. I am still missing one effect, but think I can get by with out it.<br />
<br />
It has been an interesting exercise for me. Looking at the original files and seeing how it was recorded and mixed. It is interesting to see how naive we were putting it together and how far we have come in both our production techniques as well as how we organise songs.<br />
<br />So the idea now is to render out the individual tracks for each song, to preserve them in a non proprietry format, just in case we ever decide to remix them.<br /><br />Then work through all the other EPs.<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-89563570886552010422016-09-03T10:39:00.003+01:002016-09-03T10:46:26.294+01:002, 4 , 8, 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Finally, we have re-released EP2 (via <a href="http://ninjakittenrecords.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ninja Kitten Records</a>) into the streaming media world.<br />
<br />
As well as <a href="http://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/album/ep2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>, it is now available at <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01KNV4DXU/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>,Spotify (see below), <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ep2-ep/id1138437641" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, Napster, Deezer etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Aalbum%3A4tEPHcwO10DYQJ2d9jEUuK" width="300"></iframe><br /><br />Here is a very rare live outing of the lead track "Shorewards".<br /><br />
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<br />
<br />
So that just leaves EP4 that isn't available everywhere. The plan is to re-release it soon.<br />
<br />
The summer, is usually a bit of downtime for us. Holidays, festivals, the odd day of sun and other complications, means we generally don't record much in August. This year was no exception.<br />
<br />
We are reconvening this coming week, to drink tea and take stock of the current state of EP8 and EP9.<br />
<br />
EP8 has been 99.9% recorded (just needs something adding to one of the middle 8's) then it will be ready for mixing. I think we will be looking for an early November release for this.<br />
<br />
EP9 we have three instumentals in various states of completion. At them moment, it looks like we will break with tradition and release an all instrumental EP.<br />
<br />
We shall see when and how the final track progresses.<br />
<br />
More soon....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-15843750539161227792016-05-29T19:51:00.000+01:002016-05-29T19:51:13.802+01:00Summer time <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Seems to have been a very long time since we blogged. Shame on us.<br />
<br />
We have been busy. We have far too many songs on the go for a single EP. I think it is sixteen songs at the last count. So as well as EP8, we are working on EP9 also.<br />
<br />
The final lyrics were written last week for EP8. So that song is now in the process of being recorded. <br /><br />As can be seen from the above image, we now have a makeshift vocal booth to play with.<br />
<br />The rest of the EP has been recorded and is ready for mixing.<br />
<br />
We haven't decided a song order yet. But titles are probably.<br />
<br />
The Distance<br />
Hometown<br />
Hometown Heart<br />
Ludworth<br />
<br />
Two songs about hometown's I hear you ask. Yep. We both did a songwriting course earlier in the year, the task was to write a song about your hometown. So we thought we would put both on the EP and see what people think.<br />
<br />
So EP8 will be the forst EP, where we haven't re-recorded an old song.<br />
<br />
We are thinking of revisiting the way we do CD covers also. The previous seven EPs all used artists manikins on them. We are unsure if we are going to continue this or try something different.<br />
<br />
E has suggested we could use some of the smoke photography I used to do. <br />
<br />
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I suggested I do more images, given it has been far too long since I last did them.<br /><br />We shall decide over the next few weeks, which way we are going.<br /><br />EP9 is currently being written, whilst we finish up EP8. So it is all go.<br /><br />Later<br />
<br />
RollasocRollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-73366158725987715912015-12-24T22:37:00.000+00:002015-12-24T22:37:06.645+00:002015 Summary, birthdays and the future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDwRApuV5Ck/Vnh5skN6jmI/AAAAAAAAAeA/8mHdYXflkPs/s1600/2015Christmas_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDwRApuV5Ck/Vnh5skN6jmI/AAAAAAAAAeA/8mHdYXflkPs/s320/2015Christmas_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /><br />Now firstly, apologies for the image above, taken at our first Christmas outing. To me Ian's camera seems to have badly smoothed our skin. His camera needs to dial back the Gaussian blur in future.<br />
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Love is Overdrive</div>
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<br /><br />
So here was are at the end of 2015. <br /><br />The Hair Thieves started and the band name registered in December 2000 as an outlet for tunes that I had been writing whilst teaching myself Cubase.<br /><br />It started with the release in 2001 of Baited Breath a song I had written back in 1994 whilst at University, (later re-recorded on EP2) before the first proper Hair Thieves tune "Girl With Two Names".<br /><br />So happy 15th birthday to The Hair Thieves. I'm not convinced I thought I would still be doing this fifteen years later, but I'm very happy that I am still doing this.<br /><br />Of course the plan in 2000 was to release an album. Something we have not yet done. I doubt we ever will (unless it is a best of compilation). Seven EPs is obviously more than an albums worth of material.<br /><br />EP1 was recorded 10 years ago in November 2005, when I took a week off work to write and record it. It was nearing completion, when I asked Ian to join the band. <br /><br />So happy 10th anniversay to Ian for being in the band.<br /><br />2015 saw us release EP7 into the world. We are very happy with it.<br />
<br />
You can purchase it (including physical copies) from our <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> store, or Amazon, iTunes, or stream it in Spotify, Deezer etc.<br />
<br />
<br />2016 will be the 10th Anniversary of EP1 being released. <br />
<br />So what else do we have planned for 2016.<br /><br />
<br />
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<br />Personally, now we live in the same town, I'd like to start playing live again.. It has been a while.<br /><br />EP8 is starting to shape up. We have run out of old songs that we want to re-record (one has been on the other seven EPs). So this will be the first EP with 100% new material.<br /><br />At the moment, we have five or six songs on the go, at various states of completion, including an interesting song where we don't actually play anything on it. More on that gem in an upcoming blog piece.<br /><br />I'm optimistic EP8 will have five songs on it.<br /><br />I'm going to be doing FAWM again in February, where I attempt to write fourteen songs in twenty eight days. In 2015, I managed nine songs, including "Love is Overdrive" off EP7 and "The Distance" off EP8, both in collaboration with Ian.<br /><br />So we shall see if any of those make it as Hair Thieves tunes.<br /><br />So hopefully, you will all have a great Christmas and a wonderful 2016.<br />
<br />
<br />Later<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
RollasocRollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-48665827448549546902015-12-23T22:05:00.000+00:002015-12-23T22:05:04.444+00:00Rollasoc's Top Ten albums 2015 - Part 3<span id="goog_1900991564"></span><span id="goog_1900991565"></span>So I lied, it is the same length as last year, just in a different order.<br />
<br />
Back to the list<br />
<br />
5 - Bruce Soord - <br />
<br />
The Pineapple Thief front man has released an album of lighter tunes, from the recent TPT and Wisdom of Crowds albums. Slightly reminiscent of the acoustic bonus TPT albums with hints of The smashing pumpkins in places. It hasn't been out long, else it might have been higher on my list.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Starting to worry the Bruce and his various bands keep getting higher on
my recent lists than the prpg god that is Steven Wilson.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
4. Heidi Browne - White Rabbits
<br />
<br />
Local Shropshire musician and winner of the UKs 2014's open mic competition,
Heidicame back with her third album. Autocannibal is one of my favourite tunes of the year. The title track is also great. <br />
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<br />
<br />
3. Of Monsters & Men - Beneath the skin..<br />
<br />
E got me into those after writing a bit of tune with a tom groove. He said he'd been listening to Of monsters and men and felt inspired. So he played me Crystals.<br />
<br />
I have probably listened to this once a day since I got the album (other than weekends).<br />
<br />
We also went to see them last month. <br />
<br />
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<br />
Plus one of their tunes was used in the trailer for the excellent Jessica Jones series. Rumour has it, they have a part in the next season of Game of Thrones.<br />
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<br />
2 Vennart -The Demon Joke.<br />
<br />
Anyone who knows me, should know, I am a massive Oceansize fan. It was a sad day in the Rollasoc household when they split. <br />
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But Mike Vennart is back after his stint as touring guitarist for Biffy Clyro with a new album, with two ex Oceansize members, Gambler and Mr Durose. <br />
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"Operate" is probably my favourite tune of 2015. E wasn't impressed when I took his Of Monsters and Men verse tom groove songs and bolted in the drums from "Operate" for the chorus. Trust me it was epic.<br />
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Now "Don't forget the joker" when it was previewed before the album was released, did worry me. It wasn't until it was heard in context with the rest of the album, that I started liking it.<br />
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So the album is part beauty, part filth. Which was exactly what was expected and it didn't disapoint.<br />
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1. Paper Aeroplanes - Joy<br />
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Now along with Vennart, I seem to have signed copies of both these albums.<br />
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It was really hard to pick between Vennart and Paper Aeroplanes, given I listen to each of them most days.<br />
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But I think Paper Aeroplanes just inch it, possibly since I managed to catch them live in Shrewsbury earlier in the year, possibly since it has been out a little longer and has managed to stay in my consciousness for longer, possibly due to the beauty and quality of songs like Emily, race you home and Guessing game. <br />
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It is a beautiful album.<br />
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So there is my list of top ten albums for 2015. <br />
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Got one last top tip for 2016<br />
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Beth Prior - Debut album out in January 2015. <a href="http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/beth-priorstudio-albumlittle-acts-of-kindness-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Acts of Kindness</a><br />
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Have a happy Christmas and see you in the new Year. (or tommorrow if you read the blog, for the year's round up).<br />
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<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-18898924736594365722015-12-22T21:33:00.000+00:002015-12-22T21:33:00.193+00:00Rollasoc's Top Ten Albums Part 2Right, here is my top ten albums for the year. Think I should have swapped Duran Duran and Passenger around. Maybe not?<br />
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10 Duran Duran - Paper Gods <br />
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Not exactly a return to form, but probably their most enjoyable album since Astronaut. Still think Andy should rejoin and force them to release Reportage.<br />
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Still listen to the re-issue of Rio more than I do this. Which is probably not a good sign.<br />
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9 - I am the Morning - From the House of arts<br />
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The only live album in the top ten. Russian classical prog rockers I am the morning, released a live album to finance their next album. Looking forward to that in 2016.<br />
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8. Sexwitch<br />
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Another album I have on vinyl only. But have been listening to it alot on Spotify. <br />
A collaboration between Natasha Khan (Bat for lashes), Toy and Dan Carey.<br />
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Very hypnotic, good to listen to at work.<br />
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7.- Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase<br />
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Probably should be higher in the list, but by this stage in the list, it is mostly sorted by how often I listen to the album. Conceptually, not sure I get the album entirely. The deluxe box is something very special though, as is the surround mix. <br />
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6 - Jean Michel Jarre - Electronica 1 - The Time machine.
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Been an appreciative fan of JMM since the '80s. My brother Paul was the bigger fan and we were lucky enough to see him when he did Destination Docklands.
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Really haven't kept up with his music for the last decade (Aero was the last thing I bough) or so, but heard he was doing two albums collaborating with artists old (Tangerine Dream, Vince Clarke, Laurie Anderson, Pete Townsend etc) and new (Little boots, Moby, fuck buttons etc), so was intregued. <br /><br />I've been pleasently surprised how good this album is, obviously with the collaborations it is quite diverse in styles. Looking forward to part 2 in 2016.<br />
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So this is the end of part 2. More tomorrow..<br />
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<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-88559442118031716922015-12-21T21:09:00.000+00:002015-12-21T21:09:38.818+00:00Rollasoc's Top Ten albums 2015 - Part 1. The nearlys<br />
I will try to make this an even shorter post than last years three part list.<br />
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I
am going to keep this list to albums I have physically purchased and
not to albums that I have streamed on Spotify. If I don't like it
enough to buy it, then I don't think it should be on the list. <br />
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I believe I have bought nineteen or twenty albums this year in physical form<br />
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Didn't make the list<br />
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1. Muse - Drones - Nothing wrong with it, just not as good as their first two albums.<br />
2. Idlewild - Everything ever written - I preordered this and it came with a acoustic live album, I pla the acoustic album a lot. This not so much. I think the songs are fine, just don't like the production on it.<br />
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Honerable Mentions.<br />
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1. Loft - Empires - Cornish rock at its finest. Disqualified from the list by being download only. Great 7 tracks though.<br />
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I really want to steal their raw files and have a go at mixing them.<br />
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2. Steven Wilson - <i><b>Transience</b></i><br />
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Released on vinyl only and with my record player broken, I have yet to play this. It did come with a download code, which I might download once I open the vinyl. It does have a new version of Lazerus on it, which I have been known to play every now and again live.<br />
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3, Jessica Graae - Sea Dream.<br />
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<a href="https://jessicagraae.bandcamp.com/">https://jessicagraae.bandcamp.com/</a><br />
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A member of FAWM. She released an album on bandcamp in the Autumn. I decided to go for the physical copy, lush folk rock.<br />
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4. Bjork - Vulnicura - Should be higher in the list, but some of the songs are quite long and I stupidly put this album in the car, which restarts the last song everytime you start the engine (and the forward button doesn't work). So given I have a 3-6 minute trip to work. I can end up listening to the same song for a week. So I'm a bit fed up of this. <br />
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Great use of electronics and orchestration. Looking forward to the new mix without the electronics.<br />
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5 Iron Maiden - The book of Souls - The first maiden album I have bought in more than a decade.<br />
Quite long. <br />
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6. Hozier - Shock horror, something you might have heard of. Occasionally, I listen to the chart music on Spotify. I really liked this song. Album is a bit hit and miss.<br />
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7. Dave Kerzer - New World (Deluxe version)<br />
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I'm sure he sent me the download in 2014, the officially the physical copies didn't ship until 2015.<br />
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Some old school prog, that doesn't hide its influences. For a double album that is really long, I really don't struggle to listen to this in its entirity. Plus Dave in his day job at Esoundz has been a top notch guy with good customer service since I started buying products from him, probably 15 years ago. So good luck to him.<br />
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8. Passenger - Whispers 2<br />
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Another beautiful album from Passenger, this time all proceeds going to
charity. Think I might have made a mistake not putting this into the
top ten.<br />
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Tips for 2016.<br />
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1. The Anchoress - Confessions of a romance novelist.<br />
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Released in January, so looking forward to this collaboration between Catherine A.D and Mansun's Paul Draper.<br />
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2. Paul Draper - Spooky Distance
<br /><br />The companion album to The Anchoress, Catherine A.D. plays on this. So far only one track has been leaked, at the Mansun Convention in 2014, plus some snippets by Paul.<br />
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So that is my two tips (other than my solo album, if I ever finish it. ha ha).<br />
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So tomorrow the top ten begins in ernest.<br />
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<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-43937193315650414072015-11-07T14:42:00.000+00:002015-11-07T14:42:06.934+00:00Love Is Overdrive Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well EP7 is almost amongst us.<br />
<br />
It will be released on November 20th.<br />
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You can preorder it from our <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/track/love-is-overdrive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bandcamp site</a>. It will be on Spotify, Amazon and all other streaming and download sites shortly thereafter.<br />
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We have made a video for the lead track. <a href="https://thehairthieves.bandcamp.com/track/love-is-overdrive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Love is Overdrive"</a>. <br /><br />We had such a laugh shooting the video. Hopefully, that will come
across in the video and everyone takes it in the silly way we intended. It is made up of lots of the 800+ photos we took on Sunday afternoon.<br />
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We are rather pleased with how it turned out.<br />
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<br />In other news. December, I believe, is the official 15th Anniversary of The Hair Thieves. So Chris might go out and play some very old Hair Thieves songs during the month at open mic nights in and around Shropshire.<br /><br />We have four of five songs now in various states of finishing for EP8. More news about that in the coming months, with holidays coming up and Christmas, it will be slow going until the new year.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-62987168191866270782015-09-13T09:59:00.000+01:002015-09-13T09:59:41.727+01:00Love is....making a music video....
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<br />
The big house move has occurred and we have reconvened working again on EP7 and beyond.<br />
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Last weekend, we shot 800+ still images for a music video for the song "Love is Overdrive".<br />
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We had such a laugh shooting the video. Hopefully, that will come across in the video and everyone takes it in the silly way we intended.<br />
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Hopefully, the video will be ready to be shown to the world as soon as the EP has been mastered and approved.<br />
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Mastering of EP7 is taking place this week. Artwork is yet to be decided. I'd imagine we will release this either late October or early November.<br />
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We have started work on EP8.<br />
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We still have "The Distance" left over from the writing session in February. Chris has resurrected a happy tune from 2010, which we have started working on and E has two ideas for new songs that he is toying with. <br />
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Which just leaves the instrumental to write. Which may or may not be Reverie Part 1 (given we have already released part 2).<br />
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Due to work commitements, E was unable to join Chris when he played a thirty minute set at Bridgnorth Music Festival last week (photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ashley.j.roberts.14?fref=photo" target="_blank">Ashley John Roberts</a>). So yes last week was busy!<br />
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So now we both live in the same town, hopefully, we will get out an play a bit more often live.<br /><br />
Things are currently good in The Hair Thieves world. <br />
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<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-75769462061496272512015-08-12T18:00:00.001+01:002015-08-12T18:00:36.847+01:00Noise Trade - Free Download<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi,<br />
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We have released our first three EPs on the <a href="http://www.noisetrade.com/thehairthieves" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">noisetrade </a>website.<br />
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Noisetrade allows fans to download the albums (or in our case EPs) for free or donate a tip. So it is all very simple.<br />
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Over the last couple of years, I discovered some good bands from the site and downloaded some free music (and later gone back and tipped some of the artists).<br />
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We are planning on putting the other three EPs on over the next month or so.<br />
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Elsewhere, mixing of EP7 has been going on behind the scenes, during our hiatus. <br />
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Due to festivals coming up and a solo gig we we reconvene for final mix approval plus tea and cookies in early September and plan the release, EP cover and possible video ideas.<br />
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Writing sessions for EP8 will commence also. (We have one song in the bag already).<br />
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So we will be back soon!<br />
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Later,<br />
<br />
Rollasoc<br />
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<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-32022517029547593112015-07-09T15:50:00.000+01:002015-07-09T15:50:00.505+01:00Mid Summer Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
We have finished writing and recording EP7!<br />
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Due to house moves, holidays and festival season, we are unlikely to do much work on the mixing, until we reconvene in September. So I think we will be looking at a late Autumn, early December release.<br />
<br />
E has started mixing a few of the tunes. The final tune, I started mixing at the weekend. So a couple more iterations of the mix to follow in the next week or so.<br /><br />So over the coming months, I am going to work on the artwork and try and produce an animated video for one of the songs.<br /><br />I am also going to work on some solo material. Things left over from old Hair Thieves sessions that were abandoned or things in weird tunings or timings.<br /><br />So we will be back in September with more news and a finished EP!!!<br /><br />Have a good summer.Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-27257250987395271642015-07-04T15:49:00.001+01:002015-07-04T15:49:54.779+01:00Shorewards - Live Video<br />
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<br /><br />Searching through my hard drive today, I came across this video. It was taken a few years ago when we played Bridgnorth music festival.<br /><br />Not too shabby a performance. Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-83019797511207417122015-05-18T02:00:00.000+01:002015-05-18T02:00:02.411+01:00Downing Tools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are getting close to shutting down the recording progress for the summer, due to house moves. Finally after almost ten years together, we will be living in the same town. <br /><br />Hopefully, this might mean the return of us playing live, even if only at a few local open mics. What this will mean is no more 36 mile round trips to recording sessions. So less time driving, more time writing and recording.<br />
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EP7 is almost three quarters there. Two songs ("Love is Overdrive" & "Epic Song") are ready for mixing, (other than possibility of adding additional backing vocals to one if we need it).<br /><br />The third tune (as seen in the images) is making good progress and in a first for us, uses some royalty free samples. In addition, there isn't a guitar in sight either.<br /><br />Hopefully this will be ready for mixing in the week. <br /><br />On every EP there is a difficult track. This appears to be track 2. This is currently called "Drowning in Air". <br /><br />It started as an electronic track. Which wasn't working, it is currently turning more orchestral, which in turn doesn't work at the tempo of the electronic track, (at which the vocals were recorded).<br /><br />So a complete re-recording will be in order during the band downtime by me(given he has to sing it).<br /><br />So there we have it. Close but no cigar. We have possibly one more recording session, before we take a break. Hopefully, we will reconvene in the Autumn and get EP7 out of the door, shortly there after or at least before the end of the year.<br />
<br />I'm off to start re-recording "Drowning in Air". <br /><br />
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Later<br />
<br />
<br />
Rollasoc<br /><br /><br />
<br />Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-15581217135276562672015-04-07T20:00:00.000+01:002015-04-07T20:00:02.896+01:00Tremelotastic<center>
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<br />
Well it has been a little while since the last blog post.<br /><br />February was mostly taken up with Chris doing FAWM. Where he attempted to write 14 songs in 28 days. He managed 10 songs. Two of which will be future Hair Thieves songs. <br /><br />The first, "The Distance" was demo'd in the last blog post. I think we are possible keeping that back for EP8. <br /><br />The second song is called "Love is Overdrive". Which will be on EP7. It is pretty much written now, just needs re-recording, which I started doing over the weekend, in a different key to the demo on the <a href="https://soundcloud.com/hairthieves" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a>.<br /><br />March was taken up with holidays and some work finalising the instrumetal for EP7. See the video above for E practicing a guitar part for the ending.<br /><br />So EP7 progress is being made. Two songs written and in the process of being recorded.<br /><br />One song in a partial written state and our usual re-record an old song, not started, but we know which song it will be and will possibly be the last old song to be re-recorded, since we have run out of ones we want to re-record.<br /><br />So over the next month, we are going to crack on with EP7. It probably won't be finished until Autumn, so location changes may be in order soon, so we might end up downing tools for a couple of months over the summer. We shall see how things pan out.<br /><br />Personally, I'm getting itchy fingers to go out and start playing live again, even if it is only open mic nights. So time to get the acoustic out and start practicing a new set of tunes.<br />
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Later<br />
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ChrisRollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK52.707302899999988 -2.755326800000034452.63035039999999 -2.9166883000000343 52.784255399999985 -2.5939653000000344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-76349458492885673632015-02-03T23:39:00.001+00:002015-02-03T23:39:35.658+00:00The Distance (Demo)<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><iframe src='http://ift.tt/1u4kk5w' frameborder='no' scrolling='no' height='400' width='100%'> </iframe><br/><br /><br/><br />Demo of a tune written for Fawm 2015. Basically we set ourselves a very short period of time to write and demo (as simply as possible) a song. So this was written in about 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon and then played with for a couple of hours two days later. Vocals are a composite of some vocals recorded on one day and others on another day. It is demo.... It was written using EZKeys as a tool to come up with the chord sequence. We aim to re-record this from scratch / replace / amend / change the r&b piano ballad. So it might end up similar or totally different. We shall see over time.</div>Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-82382346732103958452015-02-01T22:36:00.001+00:002015-02-01T22:36:53.509+00:00Deep Down You Know That I'm Right<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><iframe src='http://ift.tt/162cBd6' frameborder='no' scrolling='no' height='400' width='100%'> </iframe><br/><br /><br/><br />Written as part of Fawm 2014</div>Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867740142161071450.post-67119974092513500602015-01-01T20:50:00.000+00:002015-01-01T20:50:00.058+00:00Rollasoc's Top Ten Albums of 2014 - Part 3<br />
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So part 3. Hits and misses.<br />
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Biggest Disappointment of the year: Elbow - The take of and landing of everything.<br />
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Being a huge fan of the first three albums, I feel a gradually quality drop off over the last couple of albums. This one, I have listened to probably 20+ times and I couldn't name a single song off it, let alone hum any of it. Shame really.<br />
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Great Hope for 2015: The Anchoress<br />
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As a huge Mansun fan, any project that Paul Draper is a part of is of interest. I'd previously been unaware of Catherine A.Ds work. This is a great slice of anti pop. Good tune, great melodies. Looking forward to the album (plus Paul Draper's solo album....) <br />
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Plus it is not often that an EP comes with a free Mills and Boon book (mine is called A world of Difference!)<br />
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Disqualified from the top ten:<br />
1. Erica Nockalls - EN<sup>2</sup> <br />
Should be in the top five. Disqualified on account of not having a video. So nothing to link to.<br />
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Possibly less bonkers than her debut "Imminent Room", this is a more sweary, cutting, harder, heavier, faster, angrier Erica, with moments of beauty just to disorientate and confuse you.<br />
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Plus "Whatever makes your heart bleed" is possibly one of my favourite tunes of the year.<br />
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Nearly Made the top Ten:<br />
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On another day any of these might have made my top ten.<br />
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1. John Wesley - Disconnect<br />
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John Wesley is probably best known as the touring guitarist for Porcupine Tree, of which there are several nods to on this album. Everytime I play it, I think I should listen to it more often. One bonus is Alex Lifeson on Once a Warrior.<br />
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2. Thom Yorke - Tomorrow's modern boxes<br />
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Famous posterchild for being released on the bitorrent network. This did inspire us to release our <a href="https://bundles.bittorrent.com/bundles/hairthieves_ep6" target="_blank">EP6</a> onto Bittorrent. We were presently surrprised how many people downloaded the full package of EP and video.<br />
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I have to be in the mood for this, sometimes it just irrates me, other times it is just stunning.<br />
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3. Ed Sheeran - X<br />
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I went to see Ed Sheeran a couple of years ago. For one bloke with a loop pedal, I was blown away.<br />
I was worried that this album would be terrible after his great debut. I would be interested to hear the album he scrapped before coming up with this.<br />
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It does have some dodgy moments (Sing what is the point of Pharrell Williams on this), but that might just be too many tracks on the deluxe version.<br />
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4. Royal Blood - Royal Blood<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PJNOrfq8J4Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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Great album, but does make me want to go and listen to Death from Above 1979 afterwards. Sorry.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZNQNELfd0g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />Worst album I've listened to: <br />
Katy B - Little Red.<br /><br />The thing with spotify is most things are on
there. So when I get the urge to listen to the number one album. I
can. A single song on its own is fine, but a whole album was painful. <br />
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<br />At least I tried listening to something different. Rollasochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04733202244614744655noreply@blogger.com0