Tag: Current

‘Moog Maximus’ see the welcome return of The Bongolian, AKA multi-instrumentalist and Big Boss Man front man Nasser Bouzida. His fifth album under the Bongolian moniker continues the musical journey where 2011’s ‘Bongos For Beatniks‘ left off, taking us through the fractures of time like fellow traveller H. G. Wells. Nasser has now landed in ancient Rome, armed with a bank of Moog synthesisers over a bed of heavy grooves in a wildly eclectic fusion of Funk Soul Hammond Beat Jazz and a Sci-Fi Boogaloo.

Back in 2001, Nasser Bouzida disappeared into his studio and created a solo set of recordings which resulted in the birth of his alter ego The Bongolian. Drawing on influences of Funk, Latin, Soul and Jazz, Nasser produced an inspired selection of recordings blending elements of grinding percussion and heavy Bongo rhythms.  The eponymous debut ‘The Bongolian‘ was released early in 2002 to much critical acclaim, and followed up by the albums ‘Blueprint‘, ‘Outer Bongolia‘ and ‘Bongos For Beatniks‘. The albums have become record box essentials for DJs, finding a wide appeal from Dance and Hip-Hop to Rare Groove and Funk 45s fans.

Nasser has also assembled a high calibre five piece live band with which The Bongolian have toured USA, UK and Europe.

Nasser Bouzida’s most recent release was with Big Boss Man whose 4th album ‘Last Man On Earth‘ which received strong support at BBC 6 Music (Cerys Mathews, Craig Charles, Gideon Coe, Nemone) with the band touring Europe extensively since it’s release. The Bongolian also collaborated with Fay Hallam for the album ‘Lost In Sound‘ (Fay Hallam & The Bongolian).

Transitioning from the industrial backdrop of the last album ‘Towers‘, The Dear One is set in the Pennine wilderness where an early 19th century diary of the same name is discovered providing the inspiration for a psychedelic tinged electronic soundscape. The new sound draws influence from the likes of New Order’s Movement, Daft Punk’s Homework, The KLF, Talking Heads, Boards of Canada and Tangerine Dream. The record documents a musical imagination of the lives of characters from the diary and blurs the lines between the diary and life here and now, touching on religion, loss and escapism.

The album was recorded in Baltic Fleet’s now relocated home studio in Lancashire with additional tracks laid down at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool institute of Performing Arts by the long term friends that make up the live band. With an expanding array of vintage equipment analogue and digital synths, drum machines and effects Baltic Fleet sculpted a new sound that took in electronica, ambient but also reflected the new, heavier sound of the developing live set.

Baltic Fleet is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist and DIY producer Paul Fleming. The new album follows his critically acclaimed debut ‘Baltic Fleet‘ (a Rough Trade Shop ‘Albums of the Year’) and his second album ‘Towers‘ which also made several End of Year Polls and was nominated for the Liverpool Music Awards Album of The Year. Baltic Fleet is also a winner of the annual Liverpool GIT Awards. Both previous albums have gained UK radio support particularly from BBC 6 Music (including Steve Lamacq, Gideon Coe, Stuart Maconie & Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley who invited Baltic Fleet in for a 6 Music session), and BBC Radio 2 (Janice Long) as well as international airplay. Baltic Fleet were also nominated for a Music Week Sync Award.

The album will be preceded by the title track ‘The Dear One’ as a single with AA Side ‘Sins And Drums’.

The self-titled debut album from David Woodcock – buy now with limited signed postcard (exclusive to Blow Up shop) and all good retailers! 

Includes the singles ‘Open Secret’, ‘Same Things’ and ‘Beggars Can’t Be Choosers’, which have had strong radio support from key UK tastemakers, Steve Lamacq – “A great little pop record” – (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (Xfm X-posure Hot One) and Gary Crowley (BBC London + Amazing Radio)

David’s songs are steeped in the classic British song writing tradition epitomised by the likes of Ray Davies, Steve Harley and Ian Dury. Lyrics filled with humour, pathos, wry observations and a riotous energy – in David’s music there’s certainly an air of Ian Hunter rockin’ it up with Mott The Hoople, Vivian Stanshall as a drunken Harry Nilsson, Pete Doherty with a clean bill of health or Damon Albarn in young, cocky scamp mode. Live, David works the room to the max. He gives us tales of lost love, lust, jealousy, memories, regrets and of living life to its messy limits and all the consequences that entails. On record the energy remains. Turn it on, pour a drink and revel in the world of David Woodcock!

Following ‘Lost In Sound’, Fay Hallam’s acclaimed collaboration with The Bongolian, Fay returns to Blow Up Records for a new solo album ‘Corona’.

Fay wrote the majority of the songs in a two day whirlwind writing session after returning from a tour of Italy, which ultimately inspired this atmospheric eclectic album. ‘Corona’ has absorbed Fay’s love for the Bossa Nova of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto, the experimental productions of the Carpenters and the eclecticism of Beck. There’s even a nod to the 50’s pop of Frankie Laine with ‘Giving Myself Away’ and a sole cover: Paul McCartney’s classic ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ joins the new set of songs.

With thoughts still fresh of driving through the Alps and soaking up the ambience, the songs took on a reflective mood displaying a softer, more atmospheric side to Fay’s music. An almost nocturnal feel prevails at times, exemplified by album opener ‘Se mi Ami’, perfect for late night listening, whilst her love for Soul and Rhythm & Blues still shines through on songs such as ‘Let Me Into Your Soul’ and ‘Sunny’

Originally from Wolverhampton, vocalist and keyboard player Fay Hallam has performed over the years in acts such as Makin’ Time (with a pre-The Charlatans Martin Blunt), The Prime Movers, Phaze and The Fay Hallam Trinity. She has worked with Billy Childish, Graham Day, Alan Crockford and other luminaries of the Medway Scene where she has lived for many years. She has toured the UK and Europe extensively.

CREDITS: ‘Corona’ was produced, recorded and arranged by Fay, with the accompaniment of her group of long time trusted musical collaborators for the performances. Recording took place over several months at various locations with additional production and mixing by Kev Feazey.

Blow Up presents Yéyé Existentialiste – a compilation of the recording highlights of one of the world’s greatest exponents of lo-fi pop – Stereo Total. 

EARLY ORDERS FROM THE BLOW UP SHOP HERE (LP & CD) COME WITH A LIMITED POSTCARD SIGNED BY THE BAND >>

Format Details:
Double 180g Heavy Weight LP in Gatefold Sleeve with printed liner/lyric inner sleeve + Download Code – Pre-Order

CD with fold-out liner/lyric booklet – Pre-Order

Digital

Stereo Total is the Berlin based French-German duo Françoise Cactus and Brezel Göring, whose playful eclectic music incorporates anything from New Wave, Pop Electronique, 60’s French pop mashed up with trashy garage Punk Rock and Disco to form the band’s distinctive sound:“We’ve got a special sense of aesthetic. Cheap and cheesy, but still cool and chic.”

‘Yéyé Existentialiste‘ has been compiled by Paul Tunkin in conjunction with Cactus and Brezel for Blow Up Records. Stereo Total were always a favourite act to book for Tunkin who has promoted shows with the band in London since the 90s at various locations for his Blow Up club night. He approached the band about a new compilation album and now here we are… The double album (released on heavyweight double LP, CD and digital) features 28 recordings that span their twenty year career: including tracks from their first album ‘Oh Ah’ (1995) to their last studio album ‘Cactus vs Brezel’ (2012). It also includes several new mixes including a radically reworked – ‘Everybody In The Discotheque (I Hate) –  (Blow Up mix)’. Both CD and Vinyl contain new liner notes about the tracks contained and lyrics. All the recordings have been re-mastered by Noel Summerville at 33/45 Mastering London.

‘The Adventures Of You And Me’ features on David’s debut self-titled album, and is the title track for this new EP featuring three new recordings, released this February!

‘XOXO’ is a brand new track from Sweden’s Mockingbird, Wish Me Luck – a melancholy indie-pop Christmas song featuring the uplifting vocals of Stockholms Indiekör which, following the band’s tradition, will be announced during Swedish advent (2012 saw them announce the release of ‘This Year‘, and 2013 ‘Bought And Wrapped‘).

Their debut album ‘Days Come And Go‘ has now been expanded with additional tracks and made the top five list of albums of the year for Sweden’s national newspaper Sydsvenskan.

Blow Up Records presents ‘Last Man On Earth’ the fourth album from Big Boss Man: 15 brand new recordings from Jazz, Soul, Rhythm & Blues to Boogaloo, Funk, Psych Rock & more. Out September 1st on 180g Heavy-Weight Vinyl LP, CD & Digital (order here) and it’s sounding extra tasty! 

The British four piece return with a new set of songs and recordings that take a fresh approach to the BBM sound – their hip hybrid of Latin, Jazz, Soul, Psych Rock and ’60s/’70s drenched R&B is now expanded with the added dimension of a brass section and guest vocalists adding to the further sonic and rhythmic explorations from the band; taking us on a one heck of a brand new trip!

Includes the singleAardvark, a jazz dance floor filler, rush released fresh from the studio mix sessions back in April, that received strong radio support from BBC 6 Music and BBCRadio 2, including multiple spins by Craig Charles on his Funk & Soul Show, who declared that “I’ve been a big fan of Big Boss Man for many years. Big Boss Man ‘Aardvark’. Double Groovy!” Additional radio plays came also from Gideon Coe, Tom Ravenscroft, Cerys Matthews, Chris Hawkins and Huey Morgan at the stations.

‘Open Secret’ is the third single from David Woodcock releases just ahead of his self-titled debut album ‘David Woodcock‘ out this August.

‘Aardvark’ is the first track to be taken from Big Boss Man‘s forthcoming 4th album ‘The Last Man On Earth‘. It’s currently available for a limited time as a free download here.