Festival Internacional de Benicassim

Oropesa del Mar, Spain

When I went to the Festival Internacional de Benicassim 2003, I stayed in Oropesa - the town just north of Benicassim and about 45 minutes north of Valencia by train. Spain was absoultely beautiful and really, really hot (the Festival is in August). I saw some great performances at the Festival, including Placebo, Blur, Echo and the Bunnymen, Moloko, Beth Orton, Tiga, Groove Armada, and Swayzak.

John Peel R.I.P.

John Peel, legendary DJ at BBC's Radio 1 and 4, died today of a heart attack while vacationing in Peru. He was 65 years old. Peel was truly a music legend - championing bands before they were critically acclaimed. Bands would come in to the BBC studios and record tracks for the "Peel Sessions," and often these tracks would sound better than the album version. Peel promoted bands ranging from the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Pink Floyd to Joy Division and The Cure.

A sad day for music fans indeed.

UNKLE at the Canal Room

To promote the U.S. release of Never, Never Land, UNKLE hit the Canal Room last night for the first stop on their "Decks and EFX" tour. With deep bass and a sweet groove, James Lavelle and Richard File got it right. Although clearly enjoying themselves, the crowd was surprisingly subdued - perhaps transfixed by the "EFX" videos behind the "decks". Nicely done UNKLE, especially with the remix of Radiohead's "Idioteque" thrown in.

Tim Sweeney of Beats in Space (a collaborator with the DFA - producers extrordinaire of the likes of The Rapture) led off this show before handing the sta, er, decks over to the men from UNKLE.

Can it be true?

Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler reuniting? Apparently, the former Suede mates have been recording together in a new band, The Tears. Good news for fans of the Anderson/Butler recordings by Suede - Suede and Dog Man Star. Not much on their site yet, but at least we know they are playing together - again.

With over a decade of great music under their belt, Suede did a brilliant thing last winter - they played five nights in London, playing one of their five albums each night. Now that lets the fans know what to expect. Sadly, the band announced their split prior to these shows, making them the last gigs by the legendary Suede.

Kasabian

Currently listening to Kasabian's debut album Kasabian. Outstanding work here. They sound like early 90's Primal Scream (ya know, before the militaristic overthrow of corporations stuff). Right now I'm currently enamored with the whole dance-rock thing, and Kasabian fits the bill. They are making their first trip to the U.S. on November 18th, when they will be playing The Bowery. Really fired up about this show.

Interpol's Antics

I've been listening to Interpol for over two years now and I'm a huge fan. If you haven't heard them, they have a post-punk, indie rock sound with a British flavor (a little Cure, a little Smiths with some Joy Division thrown in). I can still remember hearing "Untitled" on their debut album Turn On the Bright Lights for the first time back in 2002. It was a completely overwhelming experience. I had not heard anything like that for a while and was psyched that a band was producing this sound again. I'd put Turn on the Bright Lights in my top 5 for the best debut albums ever (along with Doves' Lost Souls and Oasis' Definitely Maybe - I have to seriously think about two others though).

So when it came to their new album Antics, released in the last week of September, I had extremely high expectations. While a great album, however, I do not think that it can compare to TOTBL. It is a little more poppy than their debut and, gasp, potentially more mainstream-friendly. I was hoping for a little more doom and gloom, I guess. Nevertheless, the songs "Narc" and "Take You On a Cruise" are outstanding, and the version of "A Time to be So Small" is a step up from the previous version on the Precipitate EP. You can hear some of the songs at Antics.

I'm lucky enough to have see Interpol four times now, including at last summer's Curiosa Festival (an amazing event - perhaps for another day's column). Although I missed their "secret" show at the Bowery Ballroom last Sunday, the 10th, I'm gonna see them for their last American show this year at the Hammerstein Ballroom on November 12th. If you have the opportunity to get tickets, SEE THIS SHOW! Interpol is definitely a band to see live.

Welcome!

Hello, hello! I have finally created a blog. My blog, This Twilight Garden, will really just be my thoughts (and your comments) on the music I like - Britpop, shoegazer, indie rock, progressive house and trance - and other assorted trinkets and whatnot. I often listen to a cd and want to comment on it - and now you out there in internet land can see my comments if you care.

The name of the blog comes from the title of one of my favorite Cure songs. "This Twilight Garden" is the b-side to "High" off of Wish. A remarkable song - check it out if you have the chance.

Enjoy.