British Sea Power

The trio of releases (Zeus, Valhalla Dancehall, VIP EP) is still one of my favorite things from this year, very happy they put out every last track from these sessions. Delicate, driving, warm and bombastic, so impressive from one track to the next. How can they possibly follow it up?

With a book?

What's on the VIP EP?

i think we should ask noted British Sea Power fanatic lexpretend for his thoughts on the subject

I think you misspelled sickmouthy.

The VIP EP:

1 Let The Tears Roll 4:06
2 Lucky Bicycle 2:45
3 kW-h (Glitter) 5:24
4 Shit Factory 2:02
5 Luna (Full Length Version) 9:32

Is anything on it as lovely as "Cleaning Out The Rooms"?

i think we should ask noted British Sea Power fanatic lexpretend for his thoughts on the subject

something about white boys with guitars amirite

xp That remains one of the best songs I heard all year.

The book's amazing by the way. Very British, natch.

Are they worth seeing live?

funny you should ask, I just saw them a couple of weeks ago. I left early and went to the bar but you might have better luck

Yes.

Yes. They're usually very good and sometimes mind blowingly so.

Anyone heard the new monthly demo EPs?

Wow, missed all those releases.

Currently waiting for the remixes and alternate versions collections.

No-one heard any of these?

I have those, some good stuff in there, actually, and I tend to be uninterested in remixes!

Fans in South East England pay notice. BSP are playing all of Valhalla Dancehall at the next Klub Guttenberg in Brighton. (I'm playing a disco set later on.)

x-post.

To be honest, hearing different versions of Cleaning Out The Rooms was a big part in the decision to buy. One of my favourite tracks of last year and favourite BSP track (not including the Man of Aran soundtrack).

* Bump *

To order the EPs or not? Dilemma.

First one is sold out. I got the first two the other day - they're hardly critical, second one has more fully developed songs as opposed to the first.

I take it back, further listens have revealed these to have much charm, especially "Machineries Of Joy".

Are they more "Who's In Control" or "Cleaning Out The Rooms"?

[CDs seem to be taking an age to arrive]

Ordered "Do It For Your Mum".

Like that it arrived from a D Wilkinson with one of those Stroke Association return address stickers.

EP1 is more "Cleaning Out The Rooms" slow burners, EP2 is more uptempo stuff.

Tonight's Klub Krankenhaus is shaping up to be a belter. Three BSP sets including a Zeus and Valhalla Dancehall one; Bo Ningen and the Girl Brutus dance troupe.

Ordered "Do It For Your Mum".

Like that it arrived from a D Wilkinson with one of those Stroke Association return address stickers.

Yeah, this. Read on a cruise ship with the Open Season Tour bookmark it came with, no less.

EPs are rather good stuff, preferring EP2 'tbqh'.

Miffed that I didn't get on the shortlist of their animal in a hat contest. Fuckers.

Enjoying the book.

The remixes/alternative versions CDs are patchy but include some good stuff.

There's a comical device used in the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books where the author will use a (vaguely) unusual word (eg. "precipitation") and then use a page explaining what this means. i'm sometimes reminded of this reading "Do It For Your Mum". there are odd tangents that, for the most part, make it more interesting than a lot of rock books. sometimes though it feels as if wikipedia has been used, particularly when visiting cities.

EP3 just arrived, it's more languid and instrumental, which is to be expected as they're working on a new soundtrack.

That probably describes my favourite side to BSP.

Ah man, I think that book is beautiful. So well observed. It is cheeky with language in a really entertaining way: Heroin enthusiast etc.

Absolutely - I liked it a lot, for the most part.

EP4 continues the monthly parade of releases - more bands should do his! Opening cut is particularly great.

Currently loving the alternate versions of "Cleaning Out The Rooms".

Oh, well, the original is damn great too! These guys have been one of the most consistent guitar bands this century.

I was saying just the opposite to a friend, earlier: they're wildly *inconsistent* - I much prefer their un-rock side.

Really? I think all their albums have been at least very good, and the mix between bombast and contemplative work keeps both fresh.

There's the odd rockin' piece that I like but the tracks that I * love * are more languid.

The only album I love all the way through is "Man of Arran" (which does include rocky bits).

The latest album is the only one I haven't gone back to that much. It's not a bad record at all but I just didn't click with it the same way I did with the others. I think Do You Like Rock Music might be my favourite these days, that's mainly because of how much I love No Lucifer. First three are all pretty solid though, great live band too.

"Man Of Arran" is strictly instrumental, right? I prefer their vocal work.

EP5?

Available for order now, go get it!

http://sheffdocfest.com/view/thespace

Listening to EP6, which took a dogs age to arrive. As usual, these snapshots of works-in-progress need repeated listens to reveal their charms buthere's much to love already.

It's been a brilliant marketing ploy at the very least and a great tip of te hat to fans. I wonder what will make their next album,and how will it change between now and then?

Were EP5 and EP6 worth spending money on?

Oh yes. Fund a favorite band!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skPb3l2XhXY

Am enjoying the DVD sound track.