Random jukebox – Roni Size

Last week, we heard a song about The Size of a Cow, so this week, we’ll go with Roni Size. This is Bite the Bullet.

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Retro chart for stowaways – 29 January 2005

Here are the top ten singles from a decade ago this week:

1. Client feat. Carl Barât – Pornography
2. Erasure – Breathe
3. The Chemical Brothers – Galvanize
4. Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan – Silence 2004
5. Kylie Minogue – I Believe in You
6. Lemon Jelly – Stay with You
7. Roni Size – No More
8. Bent – Flavour Country EP
9. Dirty Vegas – Walk into the Sun
10. Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence 2004

Music for the Masses 1 – 17 November 1999

Hopefully you’ll excuse the interruption of normal service, because I stumbled across this in my archives and wanted to share it! Long before this blog existed, there was a student radio show called Music for the Masses, and the first ever show took place fifteen years ago today, on Aberystywth’s brand new student radio station, Bay Radio. The gaps in the playlist are the bits where I talked.

Tracks played on the first show, Wed 17 Nov 1999, from 11am-1pm

Tracks taken from the playlist (Total 12 tracks). A indicates A-list (7 tracks); B indicates B-list (3 tracks) and C indicates C-list (2 tracks). S indicates the Single of the Week. R indicates tracks taken from my own collection (Total 8 tracks). L indicates tracks we grabbed from the drawer to impress people (Total 9 tracks).

• 1. Everything But The Girl “Before Today” R
• 2. Garbage “The World is Not Enough” A
• 3. Jamiroquai “Canned Heat” L
• 4. Manchild “Return to the Dragon” C

• 5. Gay Dad “Joy” L
• 6. Offspring “She’s Got Issues” S
• 7. R.E.M. “At My Most Beautiful” L

• 8. New Order “World (The Price of Love)” R
• 9. Amar “Red Sky” A
• 10. Jean Michel Jarre “Oxygène 10” R
• 11. Beastie Boys “Alive” A

• 12. Cartoon “Alcoholic Show” L
• 13. Murry The Hump “Colouring Book” A
• [Advert Break]
• 14. Barenaked Ladies “It’s All Been Done” L
• 15. Spacedust “Let’s Get Down” L
• 16. Beloved “Sweet Harmony” R

• 17. Primal Scream “Swastika Eyes” C
• 18. Cast “Magic Hour” L
• 19. Atomic Kitten “Right Now” B
• 20. Pet Shop Boys “Happiness is an Option” R

• 21. Roni Size/Reprazent “Watching Windows” L
• 22. Wheat “Don’t I Hold You?” B
• 23. Olive “Miracle” R
• 24. Glamma Kid “Why?” L
• 25. Saint Etienne “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” R

• 26. Madonna “Nothing Really Matters” L
• 27. Muse “Muscle Museum” A
• 28. Depeche Mode “Only When I Lose Myself” R
• [Advert Break]
• 29. Aim & Kate Rogers “Sail” B
• 30. Longpigs “The Frank Sonata” A

• 31. James “We’re Going To Miss You” A

Producer: Mark (and, unofficially, Karl Homer)

Notes: A reasonable flow to the tracks, considering the complete lack of planning. A slight surplus of playlist tracks at the end meant that I over-ran by about 2 minutes. Odd selection of music I suppose, but given the limitations, this is unsurprising. Better luck next time!

Mercury Prize Winners 1992-2013

Last year, we looked at the nominees of the Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize in excruciating detail (you can find the links below). This year, let’s just take a very quick browse through the list of winners!

• 1992 – Primal Scream – Screamadelica
• 1993 – Suede – Suede
• 1994 – M People – Elegant Slumming
• 1995 – Portishead – Dummy
• 1996 – Pulp – Different Class
• 1997 – Roni Size / Reprazent – New Forms
• 1998 – Gomez – Bring it On
• 1999 – Talvin Singh – Ok
• 2000 – Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of Bewilderbeast
• 2001 – PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
• 2002 – Ms. Dynamite – A Little Deeper
• 2003 – Dizzee Rascal – Boy in da Corner
• 2004 – Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
• 2005 – Antony and the Johnsons – I Am a Bird Now
• 2006 – Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
• 2007 – Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future
• 2008 – Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
• 2009 – Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
• 2010 – The XX – XX
• 2011 – PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
• 2012 – Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
• 2013 – James Blake – Overgrown

Which does make for a slightly odd list when you see it all together – it’s a mix of legends and total drivel… but who are we to judge? That’s the job of the judging committee.

If you want to delve into the gory details of previous years, you can find them here: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. The nominees for 2014 can be found here, and we’ll take a look at the winners next week.

The Best Singles of 2003

I recently found this document in my archives, dated November 2003…

Conjure One “Sleep / Tears from the Moon” (Nettwerk; January; #41)

An amazing debut for Rhys Fulber’s solo project (he’s more commonly known as half of Delerium), which is taken to new heights by remixes from Tiësto and Ian van Dahl. This is how dance should sound in the twenty-first century.

Conjure One “Centre of the Sun” (Nettwerk; August; #83)

Although not quite as instantly catchy as its predecessor, this single boasts some fantastic electroclash and retro remixes from the likes of JXL and Pete Lorimer.

Dirty Vegas “Simple Things” (Parlophone; March; NCQ)

Another great track from the fantastic eponymous debut album, including live acoustic tracks and deep and dark remixes, showcasing all the different sides of the band.

Front Line Assembly “Maniacal” (SPV; October; no UK release)

I bought this because I’d heard a few tracks by the band (who are, rather confusingly, the same people behind Delerium) and knew their reputation, and was totally blown away by this release. Dark and powerful industrial electronica.

Dave Gahan “I Need You” (Mute; August; #27)

One of the best tracks from the Depeche Mode frontman’s debut solo album, including remixes from Ladytron and Gabriel & Dresden and exclusive tracks across the different formats.

Alex Gold feat. Phil Oakey “LA Today” (Xtravaganza; April; #68)

A slightly odd track that sounds something like a cross between the Human League and Dirty Vegas, but essential nonetheless.

Goldfrapp “Train” (Mute; April; #23)

Fantastic comeback from Goldfrapp including an exclusive track and remixes, and welcoming them into the electroclash arena.

Lemon Jelly “Nice Weather for Ducks” (XL; February; #16)

Huge airplay propelled this querky but endearing track towards the right end of the charts. Unfortunately the single is fairly sparse, but it’s worth getting for the main track if nothing else. And of course it’s got beautiful packaging.

Yoko Ono “Walking on Thin Ice” (Parlophone; April; #35)

Worth buying not for the track itself but for the fantastic Pet Shop Boys remixes on the second CD, which introduce beautiful rippling retro analogue synths and prove that the lads have still got it.

Erlend Øye “Sheltered Life” (Source; July; #93)

Fantastic remix for the second single from the debut solo album from half of Kings of Convenience that frankly ought to have been a huge hit.

Pet Shop Boys “Miracles” (Parlophone; November; #10)

A new Pet Shop Boys release is always a treat — this one is no exception, backed with new b-sides and remixes from the bonkers Lemon Jelly and someone called Eric Prydz.

Röyksopp “Sparks” (Wall of Sound; June; #41)

Another single from the essential album Melody A.M, this time with a daft remix by Roni Size but also an excellent new track and, on the second CD, the video to their best track yet, Remind Me.

Saint Etienne “Soft Like Me” (Mantra; January; #40)

A slight departure from their normal sound, but nonetheless one of the best tracks from their 2002 album Finisterre backed with remixes and dozens of exclusive b-sides.

Yello “Planet Dada / The Race 2003” (Motor; October; no UK release)

Sometimes bands slip in and out of fashion by moving ahead of the times. Yello, on the whole, have slipped out of the public eye by doing much the same thing (on the whole) for the last decade. Finally, the rest of the world has caught up with them, so their fantastic brand of electro is finally contemporary once again. There are even Tomcraft mixes of their biggest hit to boot.

Preview – Roni Size

It’s another video of a picture I’m afraid, but Roni Size is back this week with a new album called Take Kontrol. This single, Bite the Bullet, available to download for free from the page with the video on it (if you can get through the security system, anyway) is rather brilliant:

Q Awards Winners 1990-2012 (Part Two)

We’ll look at this year’s ceremony next week, but for now here’s a continuation of the list that we started last week, of all the winners to date, by award:

Songwriter and Producer

Although seemingly now discontinued, these were a couple of Q’s better awards, recognising the contributions of the people behind the music.

Best Songwriter / Q Classic Songwriter

• 1990 – Prince
• 1991 – Richard Thompson
• 1992 – Neil Finn
• 1993 – Neil Finn
• 1994 – Morrissey
• 1995 – Van Morrison
• 1996 – Rod Stewart
• 1997 – Paul McCartney
• 1998 – Paul Weller
• 1999 – Ian Dury / Chas Janke
• 2000 – Guy Chambers and Robbie Williams
• 2001 – Kate Bush
• 2002 – Jimmy Cliff
• 2003 – Dexys Midnight Runners
• 2004 – Elton John
• 2005 – Nick Cave
• 2006 – Noel Gallagher
• 2007 – Billy Bragg
• 2008 – John Mellencamp
• 2009 – Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)
• 2010 – Neil Finn
• 2011 – Gary Barlow

Best Producer

• 1990 – Paul Oakenfold / Steve Osborne
• 1991 – Trevor Horn
• 1992 – Daniel Lanois / Peter Gabriel / The Orb
• 1993 – Flood / Brian Eno / The Edge
• 1994 – Stephen Street
• 1995 – Tricky
• 1996 – John Leckie
• 1997 – Nellee Hooper
• 1998 – Norman Cook
• 1999 – William Orbit
• 2000 – Pete Devereux and Mark Hill (Artful Dodger)
• 2001 – Nigel Godrich
• 2002 – Moby
• 2003 – Nigel Godrich
• 2004 – Mick Jones
• 2005 – Gorillaz / Danger Mouse

Best Newcomer

One thing the Q Awards do pretty well is having lots of almost identically-named awards. They do show a pretty good track record with the newcomer and breakthrough artists though…

Best New Act

• 1990 – They Might Be Giants
• 1991 – Seal
• 1992 – Tori Amos
• 1993 – Suede
• 1994 – Oasis
• 1995 – Supergrass
• 1996 – Alanis Morissette
• 1997 – Fun Lovin’ Criminals
• 1998 – Gomez
• 1999 – Basement Jaxx
• 2000 – Badly Drawn Boy
• 2001 – Starsailor
• 2002 – Electric Soft Parade
• 2003 – The Thrills
• 2004 – Razorlight
• 2005 – James Blunt
• 2006 – Corinne Bailey-Rae
• 2007 – The Enemy
• 2008 – The Last Shadow Puppets
• 2009 – White Lies
• 2011 – WU LYF
• 2012 – Django Django

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

• 2007 – Kate Nash
• 2008 – Duffy
• 2009 – Mr Hudson
• 2010 – Plan B
• 2011 – Ed Sheeran

Q’s Next Big Thing

• 2010 – Clare Maguire
• 2011 – Lana del Rey

Best Live Act

One of the jewels in the Q Awards’s crown:

• 1990 – Rolling Stones
• 1991 – Simple Minds
• 1992 – Crowded House
• 1993 – Neil Young
• 1994 – Pink Floyd
• 1995 – Oasis
• 1996 – Pulp
• 1997 – The Prodigy
• 1998 – Roni Size / Reprazent
• 1999 – Stereophonics
• 2000 – Oasis
• 2001 – Manic Street Preachers
• 2002 – The Hives
• 2003 – Robbie Williams
• 2004 – Muse
• 2005 – U2
• 2006 – Muse
• 2007 – Muse
• 2008 – Kaiser Chiefs
• 2009 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2010 – Biffy Clyro
• 2011 – Blur

Best Artist

The oddly named ‘Best Act in the World Today’ Award goes right back to the Q Awards’ beginnings in 1990, but was also recently joined by special solo awards too…

Best Act in the World Today

• 1990 – U2
• 1991 – R.E.M. / U2
• 1992 – U2
• 1993 – U2
• 1994 – R.E.M.
• 1995 – R.E.M.
• 1996 – Pulp
• 1997 – Oasis
• 1998 – Manic Street Preachers
• 1999 – Blur
• 2000 – Travis
• 2001 – Radiohead
• 2002 – Radiohead
• 2003 – Radiohead
• 2004 – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• 2005 – Coldplay
• 2006 – Oasis
• 2007 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2008 – Coldplay
• 2009 – Muse
• 2011 – Coldplay
• 2012 – Muse

Best Male

• 2010 – Paolo Nutini
• 2011 – Tinie Tempah

Best Female

• 2010 – Florence + The Machine
• 2011 – Adele

Best Solo Artist

• 2012 – Emeli Sandé

Q Innovation Award / Innovation in Sound

Perhaps the most fascinating of all the awards, except for the couple of years when it was given to really dull and non-innovative artists.

• 2002 – Depeche Mode
• 2003 – Muse
• 2004 – The Human League
• 2005 – The Prodigy
• 2006 – The Edge
• 2007 – Sigur Rós
• 2008 – Massive Attack
• 2009 – Sonic Youth
• 2010 – Mark Ronson
• 2011 – Kaiser Chiefs
• 2012 – Underworld

Outstanding Lifetime Icon / Idol Achievement Awards

I suspect that, like me, you’re totally taken aback by this slew of near-identical awards. But hats off to them for finding a hundred different ways to honour U2 and R.E.M.!

Special Merit Award

• 1990 – Paul McCartney
• 1991 – Lou Reed
• 1992 – Led Zeppelin
• 1993 – Elton John
• 1999 – Keith Richards
• 2000 – Jerry Dammers / The Specials
• 2001 – Elvis Costello
• 2002 – Tom Jones
• 2004 – Shane McGowan
• 2006 – Manic Street Preachers
• 2007 – Ryan Adams

Q Inspiration

• 1992 – B.B. King
• 1993 – Donald Fagen
• 1994 – The Kinks
• 1995 – David Bowie / Brian Eno
• 1996 – U2
• 1997 – Patti Smith
• 1998 – Blondie
• 1999 – New Order
• 2000 – Joe Strummer
• 2001 – John Lydon
• 2002 – Echo and the Bunnymen
• 2003 – The Cure
• 2004 – Pet Shop Boys
• 2005 – Björk
• 2006 – a-ha
• 2007 – Damon Albarn
• 2008 – Cocteau Twins
• 2009 – The Specials
• 2010 – Suede
• 2011 – Fatboy Slim
• 2012 – Pulp

Lifetime Achievement

• 1997 – The Who
• 1998 – R.E.M.
• 2003 – Duran Duran
• 2004 – Roxy Music
• 2005 – Bee Gees
• 2006 – Peter Gabriel
• 2007 – Johnny Marr

Q Icon

• 2003 – Jane’s Addiction
• 2004 – U2
• 2005 – Jimmy Page
• 2006 – Jeff Lynne
• 2007 – Sir Paul McCartney
• 2008 – Adam Ant
• 2009 – Marianne Faithfull
• 2010 – Bryan Ferry
• 2011 – Noel Gallagher
• 2012 – Dexys Midnight Runners

Q Outstanding Contribution to Music Award

• 2005 – Paul Weller
• 2006 – Smokey Robinson
• 2007 – Johnny Marr
• 2008 – David Gilmour
• 2009 – Robert Plant
• 2011 – Siouxsie Sioux

Q Legend

• 2005 – Joy Division
• 2006 – The Who
• 2007 – Ian Brown
• 2008 – Glen Campbell
• 2009 – Edwyn Collins

Q Idol

• 2006 – Take That
• 2007 – Kylie Minogue
• 2008 – Grace Jones
• 2009 – Spandau Ballet
• 2010 – Madness
• 2012 – Brandon Flowers

Hall of Fame Award

• 2010 – Take That
• 2011 – Queen