Cats In Paris

Mancunians Cats In Paris released their debut album 'Courtcase 2000' about a couple of months ago, giving me plenty of time to buy it, listen to it then tell you all about it. Unsurprisingly, I failed to complete any of the above.

Admittedly, the question has to be asked - why have they released their debut album already? I'm sure they haven't been touring that much and with only one single and little radio play behind them, it seems a little premature. But maybe the album is just that good, Akoustik Anarkhy had to throw it out there. For reasons outlined above, I just don't know.


On the basis of the recent BBC 6Music session that I'm about to share with you, it could well be a pretty awesome synth prog odyssey. Cats In Paris manage to capture the same infectious vigour that Elle S'Appelle showed whilst combining it with the experimentalism of something like the Animal Collective. Not forgetting their slight leftfield synth pop ethos, in the same vein as Late Of The Pier. Basically, it's vivid, lavish and a bit messy. But good, oh so good.

CATS IN PARIS - LOVELOVELOVELOVE (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)
CATS IN PARIS - LOOSE TOOTH TACTILE (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)CATS IN PARIS - CASTLE WALLS (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)

Buy 'Courtcase 2000' from their label website, [Akoustik Anarkhy].

George Lamb vs The Joy Formidable

Instalment number next one for my George Lamb vs Music series. For those who don't know who George Lamb is, he is a lothario of the radio waves here in England, manning the studio at BBC6 Music. Much maligned yet much listened to, I decided to bring you some of the best sessions from his shows. This one's with Welsh Londoners The Joy Formidable, who George actually had in for another session last year too. See, he's not all bad.

If you're unfamiliar with The Joy Formidable, you may have come across them in their former incarnation, Sidecar Kisses. No? Me neither. But now they're preparing to take 2009 on and win. Mixing the likes of JJ72, Pixies and Yeah Yeah Yeahs into a surprisingly coherent and melodic form, they've just finished supporting White Lies on their UK tour. Debut 7" single 'Austere' (a throwback to the Sidecar Kisses days) was well received and I put 'Cradle' on [Keep Hope Inside podcast#6] at the start of the year.

With nods in the likes of mainstream national newspapers like The Guardian and The Times, as well as support from NME, don't be surprised to hear more of their beguiling scuzz pop. For the time being, have a listen to the session version of the recently released single as well as new song, 'The Last Drop'.

THE JOY FORMIDABLE - AUSTERE (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)

THE JOY FORMIDABLE - THE LAST DROP (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)

Eugene McGuinness

You're not often let down by a member of the Domino Records roster (whose famous alumi include Pavement and ...Trail Of The Dead, along with more recent luminaires Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys), so it was pretty unsurprising when last year's mini album from Eugene McGuinness was well received. And isn't just extra nice when Domino decide to give away one of his songs for free?

Admittedly, the freebie is in aid of Eugene's self titled full length album dealio as well as the [digital download service] that Domino is offering. But no-one really minds I'm sure. Especially as it means I can share Eugene's eccentric gypsy folk with you all.

Moving away from his Liverpudlian peers who are specialising in infectious indie pop (the likes of The Wombats, goFASTER>>, My Amiga and not forgetting the recently departed Elle S'appelle), Eugene McGuinness manages to meld lo-fi with grandiosity. Moulded by his diverse upbringing and former band Karmen Vega, he's ended up a bit like Jeffrey Lewis meets The Kinks or some equally ridiculous mish-mash.

EUGENE MCGUINNESS - NIGHTSHIFT (ACOUSTIC)

'Eugene McGuinness' will be released on October 13th, followed by first single 'Moscow State Circus' (see the embed above for the video complete with dancing fencers) on October 27th. For more details on Eugene and buying his stuff, head to [Domino].