Sixteen Again: Listen to the second episode of ’60 Minutes or less’, the new podcast from Birthday Cake For Breakfast – featuring Paul Hanley!

Words: Andy Hughes

A fortnight on from unveiling the first episode of ’60 Minutes or less’, the new podcast from Birthday Cake For Breakfast (with our first guest, Joe Casey of Protomartyr), we’re pleased as punch to present our second guest: Paul Hanley, drummer extraordinaire and in recent years, the author of a number of award winning books.

Alongside brother Steve, Paul was the other famous Hanley that appeared in legendary northern outfit The Fall, one of the many drummers in the lineup over the years. His shift behind the kit took place during the fruitful early 80s, one half of the band’s classic two-drummer lineup, with appearances on such highly regarded records as ‘Hex Enduction Hour’ and ‘Grotesque (After the Gramme)’. More recently, Hanley has taken to the drums again as part of HOUSE Of ALL, a supergroup of ex-Fall members, featuring Si Wolstencroft, Pete Greenway, Martin Bramah and (of course), brother Steve.

Outside of drumming, Hanley has written a number of brilliant books – ‘Leave The Capital: A History of Manchester Music in 13 Recordings’ and ‘Have A Bleedin Guess: The Story of Hex Enduction Hour’. In April 2024, Route Publishing are set to release a new collection from Paul – ‘Sixteen Again: How Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks Changed Manchester Music (and me).’ It’s a book that looks to explore the appeal of Buzzcocks and the influence of Pete Shelley on Manchester music and beyond.

On a frosty morning in early December 2023, I visited Paul at home in Timperley to talk about the Buzzcocks and much more, starting – as all conversations should – on Timperley’s most famous son, Frank Sidebottom.

A handy Spotify player is embedded below, but you can find further ways to listen here.

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What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod: The Lounge Society

Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel that what influences them is just as important as the music they make. With that in mind, off the back of releasing their debut album ‘Tired of Liberty‘, we’re delighted to have The Lounge Society talk us through some records that influenced them.

Words: Andy Hughes (Photo Credit: Andy Little)

The Fall album Bend Sinister
(1986)

“As we were growing up together, discovering new records and styles of music, The Fall were very important. We’d be sat on the bus going to college obsessing over the melodies on ‘R.O.D’ or the drums on ‘Gross Chapel‘ or whatever it was that day, we really soaked it all in, you know? I think when you’re that age you’re so desperate to find the next record which you can completely fall in love with. That still happens now, occasionally someone will play a record in a van or whatever and we will all sit there and allow ourselves to have our minds blown. That’s one of the best feelings in the world.

This is a record which we’ve all continued to love but it certainly takes me right back to being sat together on a bus sharing a pair of earphones getting that buzz you get when you hear a really exciting album for the first time. So for that reason it feels quite precious to me.“

The Walkmen – The Rat
(Bows + Arrows, 2004)

“When we were in the studio recording the record, we were all really determined to capture ‘No Driver‘ perfectly, there was definitely a little bit of pressure, healthy pressure, going on. We knew it was a good tune and we couldn’t not get it right. We were talking to Dan about how we were going to approach the track. He put this song on and said something along the lines of ‘maybe we should try something like this’. It was one of those moments where we all looked at each other, it was like something clicked and we suddenly knew exactly what we had to do. To be honest the ‘No Driver‘ mix is actually quite different to ‘The Rat‘ but it doesn’t matter, listening to that song at that exact time made ‘No Driver‘ the way it is, one way or another.“

Verve Remixed Compilation 2
(2003)

“We went through a period of listening to this compilation all the time, in the van, at parties etc. Every tune is really cool but the track we love the most is probably the Funky Lowlives remix of ‘Manteca’ by Dizzy Gillespie. The drums and percussion on this track definitely had an impact on how certain parts of the record sound. The intro to ‘Boredom Is A Drug’ for example.“

The Libertines album Up The Bracket
(2002)

“We spent a lot of our teenage years listening to bands like The Libertines and The Strokes. I think we were all pretty musically turned on by the energy that both bands had. We’d often go to each other’s houses after school and watch live footage of The Libertines at Glastonbury or whatever. It was exciting for us as a band starting out. The chaos of songs like like ‘Vertigo’ or ‘Horror Show’. We loved it.

It was also really important for us to watch a band be able to throw so many beautiful melodies into that chaos. You know, it’s far from just noise, there’s a lot going on, so many vocal and guitar melodies that get into your head. That’s sort of what we’ve been trying to do a lot of the time, write tunes that make people want to jump about but with beautiful melody.“

CSS – Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above
(Cansei de Ser Sexy, 2006)

“We all love this song. It’s probably one of the only tunes that would get us all on the dance floor instantly. It’s a beautifully dark banger. That haunting synth sound gets me everytime. Yeah, we’d love to have written this tune.“

‘Tired of Liberty’ is out now via Speedy Wunderground – grab a copy here!

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Listening Post – February 2021

Words: Andy Hughes

January is normally a slow month round these parts (after all, we only managed to review TWO shows last year around this time) but this time around, as the 9 months beforehand have seen us twiddling our thumbs to the bone on occasion, it’s business as usual as we move forward into February!

Back to it so we are – you know the drill. 20 tunes – old and new – all dead boss, lad.

*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4YVCOaEVI9rOIdnY3PhJEf

Peter Ivers – Miraculous Weekend
(Nirvana Peter)

What a jam! Where did this come from?! A real gem that sounds like it laid the groundwork for alt-poppers the likes of Mac DeMarco or Paul Cherry, ‘Miraculous Weekend‘ is as catchy as it gets. Let that harmonica ring out!

Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta
(To Pimp A Butterfly)

I’ve never been hot on Kendrick Lamar’s style, but I heard this the other week and everything clicked into place. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to suggest the vocal on this weirdly sounds almost James Brown-esque. ‘King Kunta‘ gives me reason to believe everyone was right about this cat afterall (who knew!)

Shame – Snow Day
(Drunk Tank Pink)

The past month and just before Christmas, I absolutely hammered the new Shame record. Full disclosure, the first one didn’t grip me so much and their stratospheric rise seemed to arrive out of nowhere. With ‘Drunk Tank Pink‘ however, they’ve laid the tools out on the table and paid back in full the faith put in them. An incredibly exciting record, all hits, no misses – ‘Snow Day‘ is a proper trip.

Shifting – Spudgasm
(It Was Good)

“I was blown away in less than a minute the first time I listened to Shifting’s new record ‘It Was Good’…” So said our Nate in his review posted late last year and sure enough, he’s right – ‘Spudgasm‘ is a rock hard statement of intent from Irish outfit Shifting. An infectious burst of noise.

The Specials – Concrete Jungle
(John Peel Session (23 May 1979)

Something of a theme occurs in my listening at the minute, where I’ll pick up on something I’ve put off for years and become mildly obsessed with it for a day, week, month… The Specials have always been there and I’ve admired Terry Hall for yonks, but I’ve never really paid much attention (likely as they’ve always been there – ready when I am). At just over 10 minutes, this EP is a perfect introduction.

Sleaford Mods – Nudge It
(Spare Ribs)

Fair shout to Amy Taylor of Amyl & The Sniffers – Two album guest spots in the first month of the year and in ‘Spare Ribs‘ in particular, she steals the show. Mega infectious beats on offer from Andrew Fearn (as per) in what might be the best song off the latest really good Mods album.

Gustaf – Design

Can’t fault a New York band for sounding very much like they come from New York. We’re pretty smitten with ‘Design‘, one of a pair of hotly tipped wonky debut singles from the Brooklyn based outfit.

Gabriels – Love and Hate in a Different Time
(Love and Hate in a Different Time)

This gets a hammering on 6 Music and for good reason – ‘Love and Hate in a Different Time‘ is a really special bit of kit. It’s no shock to learn that vocalist Jacob Lusk is apparently a big part of the gospel community in their home base of Los Angeles, given how commanding he sounds here. This really gives you a bit of pep in your step.

Pet Shop Boys – Rent
(Actually)

The past few years we’ve been loving the work of Neil Tennant, whether it be from backing up Liza Minnelli on the incredible ‘Losing My Mind‘ or lending a helping hand with Messrs Marr and Sumner in Electronic. This swish 80’s bop from Pet Shop Boys is a brilliant bit of storytelling.

Home Counties – Modern Yuppies

There have been quite a few internal conversations about Home Counties at Birthday Cake For Breakfast HQ the past month. With a bit of a leg up over their contemporaries, they’ve eschewed current trends, instead putting out something particularly fun in ‘Modern Yuppies‘ – helped in part via a drum machine and a second-hand analogue synth picked up off the internet.

Field Music – Orion From The Street

January 2019 – we’re off to Salford and the Imperial War Museum North for a specially commissioned live performance from Field Music, about the impact felt following the First World War.
January 2020 – we’re backstage at Soup Kitchen in Manchester interviewing Field Music ahead of a special performance following the release of their latest album, ‘Making A New World‘ – as performed a year prior.
January 2021 – we’re off nowhere fast, but at least there’s something from Field Music in the calendar – a new song to tuck into – as punctual as ever!

The Fall – In These Times
(The Frenz Experiment)

Another month, another addition to our playlist from The Fall. ‘The Frenz Experiment‘ is fast becoming a favourite and ‘In These Times‘ captures them at their catchiest as MES sings about who knows what…

Kate NV – Sayonara
(Room For The Moon)

Cucumber cool alt-pop from our favourite Russian, Kate NV. We’d recommend you put aside 40 minutes and listen to ‘для FOR‘ when you get the chance. Before you do that though, let’s bring you more up to speed with her latest album ‘Room For The Moon‘ and the enchanting ‘Sayonara‘.

USA Nails – No Pleasure
(Character Stop)

‘ORWELL WAS RIGHT, WARHOL WAS RIGHT AND I AM RIGHT.‘ 120 seconds of teeth-clenching, abrasive noise-rock from our heroes USA Nails. Rather fittingly, their second album ‘No Pleasure‘ was an early favourite moment for us from the LDN based outfit.

Working Men’s Club – White Rooms and People
(Working Men’s Club)

More from that record that lit a fire under people’s arses throughout last year, ‘White Rooms and People‘ was an early introduction to the newer sound Working Men’s Club would move into. It took a minute to sink in with us (having been initially hooked by the Gang Of Four meets Orange Juice introduction that was their debut ‘Bad Blood‘) but we’re fully on it now!

Esther Rose – Keeps Me Running
(How Many Times)

We first became hooked on this lovely ray of sunshine via the Dexy’s-esque violin throughout. A really sweet bit of alt-country meets Americana from the forthcoming third album from Esther Rose that already sounds timeless.

Paul Jacobs – Half Rich Loner
(Pink Dogs on the Green Grass)

A record I’ve returned to again and again throughout the past year has been Pottery’s debut full length ‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘. Now we’ve got our sights set on the solo output of drummer Paul Jacobs, who’s catching our attention with a sound that weirdly reminds us of a more hypnotic Lindsey Buckingham (when he was doing his snorting-everything-in-sight experimental phase on ‘Tusk‘…)

NewDad – I Don’t Recognise You
(Waves)

Another big one that’s been getting hammered on the wireless, Irish newcomers NewDad only have a handful of singles under their collective belts but in ‘I Don’t Recognise You‘, they’ve really hit the ground running with this nostalgic sounding indie bop. It reminds us in a way of that debut False Advertising single in its timeless quality.

Nina Simone – See-Line Woman
(Broadway-Blues-Ballads)

There was me thinking Feist came up with this ripper… A song that could do with another three minutes attached, as it is this 60’s slice of Nina Simone is absolutely wonderful. Top marks.

Gary, Indiana – Alien 3

Hypnotising stuff from Manc outfit Gary, Indiana. The brilliantly titled ‘Alien 3‘ calls to mind heavy-hitting electronics we’ve heard from the likes of Girl Band and Aiming for Enrike. Makes one long for getting mashed in a dimly lit basement venue (which I think is a feeling we get about once a week at the minute…)

(Photo credit: Will Shields)

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Listening Post – January 2021

Words: Andy Hughes

Yes, here we are – we made it through. The past 12 months have been a struggle it’s true and we shan’t sugar coat it – it’s a fucked situation we find ourselves in and those at the top have a lot to answer for (in this country particularly – possibly yours too…) We do hope however that some joy has been found with our regular monthly playlist and – like clockwork – we’re here again, with another selection of tunes we’ve been vibing off that we hope will do the trick for you too.

You know the drill – 20 tunes, old and new – all worth a once (twice? thrice?) over!

*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*

Arab Strap – The Turning of Our Bones
(As Days Get Dark)

What better way to pick up on a band than with their seventh album? Yep, true – I’ve never cottoned on to Arab Strap before, but following the release of brilliant new single ‘The Turning of Our Bones‘, it was hard to resist. From their forthcoming new album – their first since ‘The Last Romance‘ in 2005 – the duo really captivate here with a tale expertly described by vocalist Aidan Moffat as being about “resurrection and shagging”.

The Fall – Hey! Student
(Middle Class Revolt)

In typical fashion with this sort of thing, it wasn’t until the passing of Mark E. Smith that I started to get The Fall. Even still, it’s taken a little bit longer to get proper into them, but it feels like this year I’ve really been able to crack on. I actually saw The Fall live a few years back and it was utter dog egg. That said, wasn’t that the vibe on offer from the outfit – you never knew what you were going to get?

Anyhoo – ‘Hey! Student‘ is what I’ve come to love about the never-sitting-still outfit – that hypnotic speed-charged brand of punk.

Die! Die! Die! – 450

Back in October we were bigging up our favourite New Zealander’s Die! Die! Die! and their latest single ‘I Seek Misery‘. The flipside of that single features here, with ‘450‘ being a crunchy ripper that deals in the delicate subject of the inevitable climate collapse.

Kate NV – Plans
(Room For The Moon)

Even with our ‘Top 50 Songs of 2020‘ out of the way, we’re still picking up on new stuff that’s ticking all manner of boxes for us. Out of Russia comes Kate NV with her heady concoction of tantalising, energising alt-pop that calls to mind the likes of Talking Heads, Cate Le Bon, Field Music and Christine and the Queens. ‘Room For The Moon‘ has really captured my attention for the remaining weeks of 2020 and I’m super glad.

Meat Wave – Yell at the Moon

A last minute festive treat from one of our favourite noisy bands knocking about today, Chicago trio Meat Wave have blessed us with the riveting stomper that is ‘Yell at the Moon‘ as we draw the year to a close. Having been obsessed with last album ‘The Incessant‘, I can’t wait to see what else is in store for 2021!

Braids – Snow Angel
(Shadow Offering)

Last seen on these pages as part of our ‘Top 50 Songs of 2020‘, Canadian trio Braids have been in and out of my thoughts all year thanks to the incredible ‘Young Buck‘. Another single from the record, the hypnotic ‘Snow Angel‘ – rounding out at 9 breath-taking minutes – provides an almost out-of-body experience as vocalist Raphaelle Standell-Preston takes hold of you for its duration, captivating particularly as she gets incredibly introspective on her position in the world as the track builds and builds.

OHMME – Miasma

Another cucumber cool offering from Chicago-based duo OHMME, released as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club. ‘Miasma‘ really digs deep, allowing one to drift off and let the mind wander. Elsewhere this year, the pair released an equally great record in the form of ‘Fantasize Your Ghost‘.

Vintage Crop – Serve to Serve Again
(Serve to Serve Again)

Title track from the latest album from Aussie post-punk lot Vintage Crop, on ‘Serve to Serve Again‘ the band drift away from the more humorous lyrical observations found littered throughout the album with a more reserved vocal delivery and a spot of synth that works wonders.

Hey Colossus – Revelation Day
(Dances/Curses)

It says a lot that nine songs into a double LP (and not long after a song 16 minutes in length), Hey Colossus still have much more in the tank when it comes to rippers. The multi-man outfit based here, there and everywhere have lit up EOY lists all over (including ours) and ‘Revelation Day‘ is a really fucking cool example of some of the joy that can be found with their latest release.

Jeff Parker – Build a Nest
(Suite for Max Brown)

One of the main picks from Algernon Cornelius in his EOY highlights for 2020, ‘Build a Nest‘ from multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and producer Jeff Parker is just a total joy. One can’t help but grin from the brain-tingling, chilled out vocal of Ruby Parker.

Albertine Sarges – Free Today
(The Sticky Fingers)

Another joyful Talking Heads-esque bop from German artist Albertine Sarges, taken from her forthcoming debut album ‘The Sticky Fingers‘ out this month. A stream of consciousness type vocal builds and builds for joyous results, with Sarges imploring the listener to kick their shoes away, slip off their kecks and whip off their bra – “Let them hang!”

Cory Hanson – Paper Fog
(Pale Horse Rider)

He always brings me back in this guy! Taken from the forthcoming solo album from Wand singer/guitarist Cory Hanson (his second), ‘Paper Fog‘ is a real stop-you-in-your tracks moment that could have easily slotted onto the last Wand record ‘Laughing Matter‘. It reminds me of that solo record ‘Thawing Dawn‘ that Andrew Savage of Parquet Courts put out – both similar too in terms of style and aesthetic.

Unschooling – Twelve

Another late December discovery, ‘Twelve‘ is the latest effort from four-piece Unschooling (linking up members from Rouen, Montréal and Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon) and is a total post-punk joy, calling to mind Preoccupations, Dutch trio The Homesick and French-infused Corridor. Sure to become your favourite band soon enough.

Quelle Chris and Chris Keys – Sacred Safe
(Innocent Country 2)

Woof, what a jam! It might be bleak outside, but this from Quelle Chris and Chris Keys puts me in mind of sunny, care-free days and hip-hop I listened to growing up. Every vocal guest spot is a joy (featuring turns from Merrill Garbus, Cavalier and Homeboy Sandman).

keiyaA – I! Gits! Weary!
(Forever, Ya Girl)

Another joyful discovery via Algernon Cornelius and his choice EOY highlights for 2020, Chicago-born vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist keiyaA is 100% new to me this year, but hers is a vocal that sounds timeless. Hypnotising and completely captivating – the whole record is a cracker.

MIKE – weight of the word*
(weight of the world)

More mind-transportation to sunnier climes, this from New Jersey born MIKE (first name terms) packs a solid punch, the vocalist rapping over such mesmerising, shape-shifting beats. Tuck into this!

Actress – Walking Flames
(Karma & Desire)

Featuring the unmistakable vocal of Sampha, It’s always great seeing whatever this kid comes up with next. If you give me half the chance, I’ll tell you that he was one of the first people I met when I was at University. Little did I know he’d soon be bezzie mates with Alicia Keys – It still freaks my nut to this very day… Guesting here on ‘Walking Flames‘, the vocal beautifully mingles with the beats on offer from one Darren Cunningham.

(Photo Credit: Fabrice Bourgelle Photography)

Nubya Garcia – The Message Continues
(SOURCE)

Entrancing, head-spinning jazz flourishes from LDN based award-winning saxophonist, composer, and DJ Nubya Garcia. On ‘The Message Continues‘, Garcia really allows you to get completely lost in its 6-odd minutes. Now we’re allowing you too. Go ‘ed – treat yourself.

Jessy Lanza – Lick in Heaven
(All The Time)

Sugar-sweet pop-bop from Canadian songwriter Jessy Lanza, ‘Lick in Heaven‘ sounds fresh out of the box whilst giving off a nostalgic flair to produce similar glittering pop to the likes of similar favourites Tennis.

Sweeping Promises – Safe Now
(Hunger for a Way Out)

More lo-fi brilliance from that excellent Sweeping Promises record out in the second half of last year. An album that shot up the list of our favourite records released in 2020, the Boston duo have a knack for writing incredibly catchy tunes – ‘Safe Now‘ being a glowing example.

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Listening Post – September 2020

Words: Andy Hughes

Welp, here we are – still whipping through 2020 at a pace. What’s that, the evening’s are drawing in? Boss, ta. Even better.

One thing you can rely on – we’ve got a NEW monthly playlist to listen to at your convenience. 20 tunes, old and new, featuring everything we’ve been vibing off as of late. Tuck in.

*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*

Sonic Youth – Addicted To Love
(The Whitey Album)

Not content with looking a bit like him, Kim Gordon channels Iggy Pop on vocals too on this cover of the Robert Palmer bop ‘Addicted To Love‘. Just last month I finished her book ‘Girl In A Band: A Memoir‘ and have been working through the Sonic Youth back catalogue. As good as Sonic Youth are when they’re ripping it up, you can’t fuck with stuff like this can ya?

Everything Everything – Violent Sun
(RE-ANIMATOR)

This to me feels like the Everything Everything blueprint and that’s likely the reason it’s gripped hold of us so much of late. Massive anthemic chorus as we’ve come to expect – Highly anticipated new album out this month!

OSEES – Dreary Nonsense
(Protean Threat)

All pray at the feet of our hero JPD! More rapid-paced lunacy from the never-stopping California based outfit (now under yet another new moniker). Would it be a year without a new release from the lads?

Wire – Ex Lion Tamer
(Pink Flag)

Came back from a run the other day and was catching my breath in the kitchen, smashing through a well deserved beer and catching the last of the evening sun whilst listening to ‘Pink Flag‘. Perfect.

USA Nails – Revolution Worker
(Character Stop)

Barbed and direct from USA Nails on the first single from their much anticipated new album ‘Character Stop‘ (pre-ordered on transparent green vinyl? Yes mate). Further indications of how vital they’re sounding and how there seems to be no slowing down for them (regardless of what the lyrics might suggest!)

AUA – Coke Diet
(I Don’t Want It Darker)

From their debut album out this month – one we described as “truly excellent” – on ‘Coke Diet‘, German duo Henrik Eichmann and Fabian Bremer deliver a propulsive burst of hypnotic Krautrock. Cucumber cool.

Stuck – People Pleaser
(Change Is Bad)

A rager from Chicago outfit Stuck, recorded during the sessions for the band’s sick debut album ‘Change Is Bad‘ and released just prior. Builds expertly to a ripper of a closing section that would clearly knock out a room in a live setting. Fingers crossed they’ll get over here once our respective countries aren’t run by money-grabbing, shambolic governme… Oh.

XTC – Senses Working Overtime
(English Settlement)

1-2-3-4-5! As horrid as this lockdown has been – a minor player in the turmoil being experienced across the globe (as highlighted by our never ending horror story news feed) – a silver lining has been discovering XTC. In full Alan Partridge mode, this really is first class.

The Fall – Lost In Music
(The Infotainment Scan)

Having discovered recently that The Fall had covered The Beatles (as heard here and from their forthcoming re-release of ‘The Frenz Experiment‘), my mind drifted to this tremendous cover of the massive ‘Lost In Music‘. That good you almost forget it’s a cover!

Minutemen – Viet Nam
(Double Nickels on the Dime)

Bang into Minutemen right now – So much packed into the tiniest of running lengths. 90 seconds, done.

Power Trip – Hornet’s Nest

It was a complete shocker to hear of the untimely passing of Power Trip frontman Riley Gale. ‘Hornet’s Nest‘ was literally only just introduced to us (by our own hardcore kid Ben Forrester) which makes it all the more sudden. A total rager from the Texan lot.

Holodrum – Lemon Chic

More arse-shaking, mind expansion from Leeds super-duper-group Holodrum, combining the powers of former and current members of Hookworms, Cowtown, Drahla and more into this wunderbar collaborative seven-piece.

Wife Patrol – Let’s Hang Out
(Too Prickly For This World)

Sleater-Kinney territory permeating through this super-catchy new one from Indianapolis based trio Wife Patrol. ‘Let’s Hang Out‘ is earworm central from their hotly tipped debut album out this month.

Jamie Lenman – Summer Of Discontent (The Future Is Dead)
(King of Clubs)

Having given the new mini-album the once over, i’m mega excited about every turn Lenners is making this year! The first single from ‘King of Clubs‘, featuring the vocal talents of Illaman from LDN outfit PENGSHUi, is a joyous bit of noise.

We interviewed Jamie Lenman late last year where he hinted at what might be coming next after ‘Shuffle‘- read that for yourself here.

(Photo Credit: Cristian Colomer Cavallari)

Mourn – This Feeling Is Disgusting
(Self Worth)

As discovered around the time of their last album ‘Sorpresa Familia‘ (and our favourite, ‘Fun at the Geysers‘), Spanish trio Mourn have got a real knack for writing these stupidly catchy singles and ‘This Feeling Is Disgusting‘ is yet another winner. A drummer down moving forward but showing no signs of stopping!

Private World – Somethin’ Special
(Aleph)

Exactly what it says on the tin, y’know – These lads out of Cardiff really are somethin’ special! From their debut album out at the tail end of August, this plants you firmly between the goalposts that were the start and end of the 80’s pop spectrum.

Public Body – Ask Me Later

The boys are back in town! Strength to strength to strength from our favourite Brighton based outfit, Public Body. On ‘Ask Me Later‘, they’ve once again got the microscope out on the mundanities of life, whipped up in a rapid-fire, energising burst of post-punk.

Girls In Synthesis – Coming Up For Air
(Now Here’s An Echo From Your Future)

Taken from their raging new debut album – one we described as “energising music“ – similar in discoveries as XTC, i’ve not been able to get enough of Girls In Synthesis since discovering them this lockdown.

Trash Talk – Just Die
(Shame)

Following the announcement of a vinyl re-issue for ‘Eyes & Nines‘ as part of the Hassle Records 15th anniversary celebrations, I had a day recently getting nostalgic with Trash Talk. ‘Just Die‘ is a real smasher from way back when and hey – If you can’t say everything you need to say in 13 seconds, don’t bother.

Pylon – Italian Movie Theme
(Chomp)

Pylon are reasonably new to me, but listening back, you realise how influential they were in their sound and ideas (‘Italian Movie Theme‘ calls to mind ‘Compromised‘ from Public Practice’s debut album). The Georgia outfit have just announced a big bumper box of re-issued records, so you can find yourself ‘Chomp‘ wherever you listen to your music!

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a/s/l: Blanketman

Remember the days of the old schoolyard? Remember when Myspace was a thing? Remember those time-wasting, laborious quizzes that everyone used to love so much? Birthday Cake For Breakfast is bringing them back! 

Every couple of weeks, an unsuspecting band will be subject to the same old questions about dead bodies, Hitler, crying and crushes.  

This Week: Adam Hopper, guitarist and vocalist in up and coming Manchester post-punk outfit Blanketman!

Words: Andy Hughes
(Photo Credit: Rosie Butcher)

a/s/l?
25/Male/Manchester.

Have you ever seen a dead body?
Yes, In Thailand backpacking, not a good day…

Who is your favourite Simpsons character?
Milhouse. Everything’s coming up Milhouse!

What T-Shirt are you wearing?
I’m currently wearing my girlfriend’s dressing gown.

What did your last text message say?
Is half nine too late or OK? X

What’s the last song you listened to?
Warmduscher – ‘I Got Friends’.

How did you meet the people in your band?
http://www.joinmyband.co.uk.

What’s the first record you bought?
Justin Timberlake ‘Justified’. I was 7 years old and I remember saving up my pocket-money and picking this CD up from our local Tesco. I wish I could dance like JT does in the ‘Rock Your Body’ video.

What was your favourite VHS growing up?
Disney’s Robin Hood.

When was the last time you cried?
*SPOILER* When Boromir dies in Lord of the Rings. (Sake man! – Ed)

Have you ever kissed someone and regretted it?
I tend to kiss Jeremy (bass) on his face/head after a few too many bevvies. He’s not keen on the close social contact.

Best Physical Feature?
I have a wide back.

Worst Physical Feature?
My girlfriend says my feet look like two slabs of gammon.

Reasonably ok/not bad feature that you’re not fussed about?
I kind of have a button nose.

Do you have any pets?
Not at my house, have a cat and a couple of dogs at my mum’s house. I’d like to adopt a cat when lockdown is over for sure! Ellie (drums) has rats.

Ever picked up any injuries on tour?
We are actually yet to tour properly, hope we’ll get out on the road after lockdown though and when gigs start again. In terms of show related injuries, I tend to hit my hand far too hard with my tambourine. At the time I’m too into the show to realise I’m doing it. But for the next week after a show my hand is always black with bruises and very tender.

What did you do for your last birthday?
We were in lockdown for my last birthday. I did go for a walk though and ordered a takeaway, it was nice. Would have been nice to see my friends though.

Name something you CANNOT wait for?
Our next release…

Do you have a crush on someone?
No.

What’s the shittest experience you’ve had as a musician?
Nothing too bad, usually stuff really. We played a show last year at a place that I shall not name, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. We’d travelled quite far to get there and arrived for our soundcheck at 6pm. We were expecting to be on stage at 9.30ish. It got to about 10.30pm before we sound-checked and we were told we’d be on stage at 12.30am. We’d already been there for about 6 hours.

If you could go back in time, how far would you go?
I’d be interested in going back to 1066AD. I’d like to check out the Norman conquest of Britain and see how accurate the Bayeux Tapestry is.

How do you want to die?
Please don’t kill me.

What’s your favourite thing about pizza?
Cheese.

What are you craving right now?
I have a constant craving for orange juice.

Have you ever been on a horse?
Nope. Never liked horses. Too big.

What did you dream about last night?
My last dream was a strange situation. Our guitarist (Dan) and I, were competing to get a job at a Camp America like company for some reason. We had to prove our physical prowess in a series of swimming challenges. Neither of us got the job.

If you could go back in time and Kill baby Hitler, would you?
I can’t see myself getting past his guards.

Do you like Chinese food?
I do, not as much as Indian food though.

Have you ever been on TV?
Nope.

Ever meet someone famous?
I once looked after Nadia Sawalha from ITV’s Loose Women on a campsite I worked on in Norfolk.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Maybe one of those people who sells artisanal meats and pickles at markets.

Debut single ‘Taking You With Me’ (a ripper) is out now via PIAS! 

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What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod: The Lovely Eggs

Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel the music they listen to is just as important as the music they make. With that in mind, we’re chuffed to have Holly Ross of The Lovely Eggs talking us through the releases that helped shape and inspire their latest album!

Words: Andy Hughes
(Photo credit: Daniel Brereton)

Black Sabbath’s album Black Sabbath
(1970)

“Black Sabbath’s guitar sound has always been a massive influence on us. Every record we’re trying to get a guitar sound as heavy as this record and ‘I am Moron‘ was no exception.”

Can’s album Monster Movie
(1969)

“Really like the repetition on Side B of this record and a lot of Kraut rock stuff. Repetition has always cropped up in our stuff and it does again on ‘I am Moron‘.”

The Neu! album Neu!
(1972)

“There’s loads of stuff on here we love. The repetition, the reverse guitars, all which had its influence on the new record.”

The Flaming Lips’ album The Soft Bulletin
(1999)

“This record is the first record where we really valued the production of it. It’s what brought us to Dave Fridmann in the first place.”

The Fall album Grotesque
(1980)

“We’ve always loved The Fall’s relentlessness. Both in the music and as a band. We feel very kindred spirits in this respect. Forever the outsider.”

‘I Am Moron’ is out now via Egg Records! Grab yourself a copy (or two) here!

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What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod: POZI

Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel the music they listen to is just as important as the music they make. With that in mind, we’re delighted to have LDN outfit POZI in the hot seat, talking us through five releases that have helped shape and inspire their debut album.

Television Personalities’ album They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles (1982)

Toby (Drums): “TVP’s are one of my favourite bands ever, if not my favourite. I got to know Dan Treacy very well when I was in Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah, we were in one of their videos and he recorded on our album. I was only about 17 and although my older band mates had such respect for them I had never fully delved into their music. Around 8 years ago I started digging a bit deeper and my love for them grew and grew. The variety and ambition in their songwriting is extremely courageous; yet they are able to deliver their vast vision with beauty, simplicity, charm and without pretence. From ‘14th Floor’ through ‘Anxiety Block’ to ‘Mysterious ways’, you travel a rollercoaster of feelings and emotions.”

Au Pairs – ‘Headache For Michelle’ (Playing with a Different Sex, 1981)

Toby: “Although just a single, this song is a huge inspiration for me and demonstrates how space within music can help you connect with it more deeply. I love the rest of the album, but this track eternally resonates with me. The complexity of the mood created is in my mind a much more realistic representation of human feeling than a lot of music. It’s a very simple track, yet the mood created is so complex and deep which is something I aspire to.”

The Fall’s album Extricate (1990)

Rosa (Violin): “The album’s first track ‘Sing! Harpy’ opens with a crazed heavily effected fiddle solo played by Kenny Brady. Atonal/jarring at points but then falling back into consonance with the rhythm section is something my playing in ‘PZ1‘ definitely has in common with the sound on this album. The listener gets a feeling of returning from a hazard-zone into (considerable) comfort, which is similar to tragedy and comedy coming side by side in theatre, it makes both more effective I think. In ‘Black Monk Theme – Part 1’, the fiddle also plays an important part in the harmonic bedrock of the song, droney with occasion higher and less controlled outbursts. It’s varied texturally which is something I tried to do in PZ1.”

Ibibio Sound Machine – ‘Give Me A Reason’ (Uyai, 2017)

Rosa: “I remember hearing this single on 6 radio at the beginning of 2017, when we were all hoping things were going to get better after a shambolic 2016. It was powerful and busy whilst leaving a very clean and crisp imprint in my mind. Reminiscent while very of this time. The lyrics sung so brutally “Give me a reason! Why! Why! Why!” whether is it or not in the artist’s eyes, seemed to me very political/ how I was feeling about world affairs at that time, a confrontational/heartbroken shout to the powers that be. It’s also a great disco tune that I listened to as a morning boost for a good while afterwards.”

Go-Kart Mozart – ‘When You’re Depressed’ (Mozart’s Mini-Mart, 2018)

Tom (bass): “I’m quite obsessed with Go-Kart Mozart at the moment. There’s nothing else that really sounds like them out there and I love the beautifully eccentric soundscapes Lawrence creates. There’s a nineties computer game quality to some of the songs and I mean that in the best possible way! One really striking thing about the music is the songs often deal with very sad and tragic themes yet there’s still this bouncy, happy feel and rhythm to the tunes. Take a track like ‘When You’re Depressed’ – you want to get out of your seat and dance even though the song literally documents the day to day pain of living with depression. After listening to it you’re left with a peculiar juxtaposition of emotions happy from the tempo yet saddened by the lyrics. To my shame I’m still yet to properly listen to his first band, Felt, but if Go-Kart Mozart’s anything to go by I’m sure it’s pretty special.”

‘PZ1‘ is out now! Bag a copy (or two) here – Or grab it from your local indie!

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What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod: Pizza For The People Christmas Special!

Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel the music they listen to is just as important as the music they make.

In the past, we’ve had the likes of JOHN and USA Nails in the hot seat talking inspirations, but with it being Christmas, we’ve decided to mix it up a bit and we’ve asked our friends at Pizza For The People to pick their top five festive favourites!

They’ve got a big Christmas Indie Banquet on this weekend at Wharf Chambers in Leeds, with music from the likes of Warmduscher and grub from VFC (Vegan Fried Chicken), so it ties in pretty well, eh? Tickets available here, full line-up on the poster below.

The Beach Boys – ‘Little Saint Nick‘ (The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album, 1964)

“What can you say other than it’s The Beach Boys, their melodies are ace and it reminds us of being warm both in summer & in front of a fire.”

The Darkness – ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)‘ (Permission to Land, 2003)

“Total guilty pleasure song and very cheesy but a great attempt and one that sticks in my head every year & drives Julia nuts!”

Julian Casablancas – ‘I Wish It Was Christmas Today‘ (Phrazes for the Young, 2009)

“A very underrated Christmas song that should get more credit. In fact, the whole first album he made is underrated or is that just the way I feel it was received?”

The Fall – ‘No Xmas For John Quays‘ (Live at the Witch Trials, 1979)

“Never really got into The Fall until it was too late & discovered this one recently so thought I’d put it in.”

The Jive Turkeys – ‘Get Down Santa‘ (2010)

“Another one I discovered recently and included it as I love how funky it is!”

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Live Review: CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH All-Dayer featuring THE FALL and more at Arts Club in Liverpool 21/01/2017

There’s nothing like a stacked all-dayer to kick off the year good and proper. Admittedly, I was at a show the night before, but for the purposes of this review and the previous sentence, the CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH. all-dayer in Liverpool marked the first big blowout of the year.

A line-up that’s had us salivating here for months, not only were the folks at C.T.M. putting on Northern leg-ends THE FALL, but they had peppered the bill with some of the biggest and brightest on these shores looking to make a name for themselves (if they hadn’t already).

Kicking off proceedings between the two rooms were local noise-makers Pink Kink and Strange Collective, the latter giving us our first taste of the picturesque auditorium.
Pink Kink have got near enough nothing online to wet one’s whistle, so it was pretty refreshing catching them up first without much of a clue of their sound. Dipping in and out of genres and warping minds throughout the huge crowd, I particularly liked the song they closed on – Psyched out, dancey as anything and complimented with dead cutesy/bratty, cheerleader-esque shouts in the chorus and the closing stretch. It’s clear why they’re racking up a bit of a following around Liverpool!

Strange Collective continued on the psychedelic hype, smashing out a barrage of wigged out, fuzzy belters that suddenly make me realise I’d just smashed four cans on the train up from Manchester. A dip in tempo on the closer offered up a false sense of security, before they ramped it back up again, making way for an unrelenting wall-of-noise.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long after Strange Collective that we had to duck out to find a watering hole that wasn’t taking the piss. Sadly this meant sacrificing Goat Girl, who I’d wanted to catch again before their upcoming meteoric rise, but I didn’t feel up to the challenge of paying five quid for a pint of Carlsberg. You’d expect an ‘arts club’ to sell craft beers and all manner of hipster joys, rather than just pints of Carling, cans of Guiness and bog-standard whiskey and cokes. Their loss ended up being our loss as well, sadly.

Suitably re-charged after a few scoops from round the corner, it was back in the venue and straight to the front for the arrival of Tigercub. For a while now, the Brighton trio have been edging ever closer to receiving the recognition they so rightly deserve. Following a storming EP release in 2015 (‘Repressed Semantics’), Tigercub hooked up with super indie label Alcopop! Records for the release of their debut album ‘Abstract Figures In The Dark’ late last year. Receiving great reviews across the board and a daft amount of radio play from all the big dogs, it’s had the Tigercub flag flying high.

In Liverpool, the new album tracks sounded huge, with the incredibly infectious new single ‘Control’ kicking off with a belting intro. It wasn’t the only track to receive such a treatment, with Tigercub getting into that really great spot of playing about with their material in a live setting, adding little quirks here and there and knocking the norm on its head. ‘Antiseptic’ kicks in with a proper DOOM intro, whilst ‘Destroy’ closes on a mammoth wig-out. The vocal interplay between the two leads is terrific, creating a pop edge to their raucous sound. There’s no point saying they’re ones to watch as they’ve already surpassed that (and we’ve been at it for a while), but if you don’t yet know, you’re one of the few!

I still find it mad that Eagulls went big Stateside for 10 minutes, popping up on The Late Show with David Letterman for their “Network Television debut”. Surreal.
It’s always good to catch the Northern collective live. The last time I caught Eagulls (supporting Parquet Courts up the road in Manchester), your man up front was clutching a bottle of red. This time, it’s no different.

Along with a bottle of plonk, they boast an infectious 80’s post-punk wall of sound, wearing their influences clearly on their collective sleeves. But for me, they don’t give off the air of kids pretending to be something they’re not, with clobber from Pop Boutique, COW and the like, but actually the genuine article. They pack in a massive crowd at the Arts Club, smashing through gems from newest record ‘Ullages’, with a few choice cuts from their self-titled debut. The juddering rhythm and shimmering, 80’s sounding guitar permeates big single ‘Tough Luck’ and it hits fucking hard!

Back upstairs and it’s time for one of the marquee names that first caught my eye: Kagoule. The trio from Nottingham have just put to bed their latest album, the follow up to 2015’s ‘Urth’. Produced in Suburban Home Studio with MJ of Hookworms (more on them later), it’s a record that makes up half the set, with the incredible ‘Magnified’ opening up proceedings. From there we’re treated to more from the upcoming album, each one sounding more immense than the next. Noisy and dabbling in a throwback sound, the songs are stupidly catchy with really intelligent writing, aiding them in standing out against their grungier, 90’s inspired contemporaries. Following their tremendous debut, expectations are high for album number two from Kagoule. After their performance in Liverpool, something tells me they’ll surpass these hopes.

With the mood suitably set and revellers liquored up (but only from Jack Daniels or Smirnoff, given the meagre options), penultimate band of the evening Hookworms drew a huge crowd into the auditorium. Featuring a mental, throbbing backdrop and prolonged beats evoking muntered-faced-grins, their set gave one the feeling that they’d just dropped a handful of eccies, rather than one of those aforementioned 5 pound single whiskey and cokes… Complete sensory overload was the name of the game and Hookworms excelled, putting on a particularly breath taking performance to an unhinged, baying mass of punters.

After a lengthy wait and a few stop-starts, it finally looked like we might be getting a glimpse of Mark E. Smith and his mates. Then we waited a little bit longer. Unfortunately, when the time did come, it was more of a dribble than a geyser, with Mark E. Smith eventually pulling back the stage curtain and waddling out on stage. Fair fucks to him for keeping it going and drawing a huge, enamoured crowd. I would have loved to have pretended I was into it, but it just wasn’t for me.

THE FALL have had their day, and will clearly continue to have their day for years to come if the crowd is there. But from the minute that line-up went live, boasting back to back performances of Eagulls, Hookworms, Kagoule and Tigercub, I had Liverpool in my sights and knew I had to be at the Arts Club come January 21^st. The headliner might’ve been lacking, but all that meant was a sour cherry on top.

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Competition: Win tickets to see The Fall, Hookworms and Cabbage in Liverpool!

Now here’s a line-up we’ve been salivating over for a while…

Putting together Tigercub and Kagoule with the likes of Eagulls and Hookworms would be enough for any normal true believer to part with their cash. That’s not quite how Southern promoters CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH work though it would seem.

Along with those four listed, they’ve decided to have a bit of an all-dayer and have also chucked the hotly tipped Goat Girl and Cabbage onto the bill, as well as Liverpool’s own Strange Collective, pink kink and Ohmns. Oh, and Northern legends THE FALL are headlining!

With a back catalogue spanning 30+ studio albums, Mark E. Smith and his gang coming to Liverpool and smashing in skulls is worth the entry fee alone, so it’s a blinding effort from the organisers to put on this peach of a show! The first show of the year for CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH kicks off at the Arts Club in Liverpool on the 21st of January and promises to be pant-wettingly good.

So what’s better than seeing The Fall rub shoulders with the likes of Kagoule and Tigercub for thirty quid? Seeing it for free!
Birthday Cake For Breakfast has got two pairs of tickets to give away to this bodacious all-dayer – Just check out the Tweet below, give it a RT and follow us and CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH. Piss-easy!

Lineup of the year already?!
Fuckin A – and we've got two pairs of tickets to give away!
RT + FOLLOW TO WIN!https://t.co/R3azi1MI5e pic.twitter.com/sG1K3DNRPD

— Birthday Cake For Breakfast (@BirthdayCakeFB) January 9, 2017

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