Left With Pictures
Secretly

this is one of the best releases of the year. and its only 5 tracks. Their album is gonna kick

All the songs sound so effortlessly great, it would be easy to mess up those arrangements but they've made them gel so wonderfully. There's nothing unnecessary, no bombast, just lovely songs.

The word "Excellence" is somewhat surprisingly followed up by the 7/10, in my opinion.

and it was a lot longer, but the subbing process kicked in. that's why the whole thing doesn't read very well, certain sentences are missing, ideas and points haven't been properly made. apparently it's something about DiS giving out high scores willy-nilly. spirit of independent opinion and all that.

a full version has been sent to the band (it's only fair), if anyone else wants one then feel free.

i can't emphasise enough that this release is better than 7 out of 10, everyone should investigate getting a copy. you won't find many more intricate records than this.

www.myspace.com/leftwithpictures

You seemed to manage to get that Sodastream 10/10 live review in OK Mr Ross, was that in the days before the Pravda style clampdown? It was a 10/10 mind, so maybe they let it pass.

I have Left With Pictures playing for me in a couple of weeks time too. It's not free though!

Fortuna POP! presents
The Beat Hotel

with
The Vatican Cellars + Left With Pictures + The Middle Ones + Bonne Idee
(exact running order still to be determined)

plus DJs playing indiepop, soul, punk and 60s till late

Friday 24th October 8pm
Buffalo Bar, 259 Upper Street, London N1 1RU
Nearest tube : Highbury & Islington

Advance: £5 from We Got Tickets/Door: £6
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/37961

THE VATICAN CELLARS
When Mr S. Hughes Esq., (guitarist with Piney Gir), and The Birthday Girl (The Schla La Las) decided to combine the former's love of folk and the latter's love of high heels and harmonium, something truly unique was born. Picking from the cream of the crop of Oxford's thriving music scene they soon had a drummer called Russell who could understand 9/18 time AND shuffle and a double bassist called Tom who channels pure chaos into walking lines of dastardly brilliance. Et voila, The Vatican Cellars. Some call it heartbreak in a glass. Some call it "night-folk". But why don't we all just agree on "excellent" for now.
"...this is gorgeous. Its acoustic, part-folky backing (all filigree guitar lines and chunky double bass, with lonely melodica on ‘Lost At The End Of The Line’) supports the sweetest melodies. There’s a wistful 60s Albion-ness about it; you could easily hear Doherty or Albarn or even Ray Davies singing ‘My Black Pearl’ in that evocative-of-olde-England way." (SoundsXP)
www.myspace.com/thevaticancellars

LEFT WITH PICTURES
Left With Pictures is made up of three men who can really sing together. It is a wonderful sound to hear. When this happens whilst these same three men draw splendid music from drums, a violin, a melodica, a piano and a guitar then it is really a sight to behold… When they go on to add great stories and then wrap those in intricate yet memorable melodies the whole thing can get rather dizzying… in a good way. They’ll have you nodding your head, tapping your toes and humming along contentedly until they suddenly get you - your heart breaks and your tongue rolls out to the floor… at least that’s what happened to me when I saw them at the End of the Road Festival last year. Their new E.P ‘Secretly’ is out now.
"Like early Belle & Sebastian, fronted by Euros Childs, and gently exposed to jazz" (Time Out)
http://www.myspace.com/leftwithpictures

THE MIDDLE ONES
This girl duo have been spending their days in Norwich gathering up enthusiastic friends, strange instruments, dance trios and themed costumes, all in the name of super-harmonised folky-pop. Anna writes the songs, sings and plays guitar, while Grace harmonises, re-arranges and plays melodica, glock’n’roll and musical eggs. This summer they appeared at the Holmfirth Folk Festival, and were one of the surprise highlights at the Indietracks festival.
“We’re blown away by the way their vocal harmonies suit the now par-for-the-course instrumentation (melodica, accordion etc) to such an extent we rush to the merchandise stall straight after and purchase a CD.” (Drowned In Sound)
http://www.myspace.com/themiddleones

BONNE IDÉE
Brilliant new (mostly) female five-piece from Gothenburg, Sweden, whose gorgeous accordion, organ and post-punk guitar songs sound like a twentysomething Those Dancing Days or an art house-loving Dolly Mixtures. This is only their second UK show and we're very excited to be putting them on. ?
http://www.myspace.com/bonneide

and dance a sprightly little dance!

Jesus fucking christ. Look, Sufjan can get away with this shit and make it work because he has a sense of melody when he's not spanking around. I don't hear that on this record. What I hear is overly intricate mincing that leads nowhere and annoys me to the point where I'm not going to focus on the lyrics. I know this might offend both fans and band alike, but being cosseted by rumors of undeserved "8s" isn't going to inspire Pictures to do anything more than polish the turd rather than correcting its essential turdness.

The band has pictures of Wilson and a young Paul Simon on their Myspace. They need to go *listen* to those guys again, not pick them apart for sonic pointers. Listen to the songcraft. Then listen to this Hobbit-eared mess again.

Notice the difference?

RstJ