John's Top 5 Listens #1- August 2012

Well, it's a blog that quite heavily features music, so here is the inevitable top 5 list! Still...check out some of the sounds, you might dig 'em!  
{ J.L }

1) Arab on Radar- My Mind is a Muffler [Yahweh or the Highway L.P]
Fantastic art-noise-rock from this group of oddballs from Rhode Island. Sitting somewhere between Devo and Contortions, they really never made a bad record and three of the original members are now playing in a lineup as Doomsday Student. Easily one of the best "post-grunge" groups.
Amazon Link

2) Broadcast and the Focus Group- Familiar Shapes and Noises E.P [Ghost Box records 7"]
Ultimately more rewarding that the still rather great LP they made together, 'Inside Out' shows a more groove orientated side which the collaboration perhaps could have explored if Trish wasn't so cruelly taken from us. Very much looking forward to the O.S.T for the Berberian Sound Studio film...
Amazon Link


3) Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich- Please [Fontata 7" B-Side of 'Xanadu']
One of the great DD,D,B,M &T B-sides, and yes there were some! When they cut loose in the studio and recorded their own tracks they morphed from novelty pop chart fodder to often edgy, noisy and experimental sounds. This track is a more poppy affair, but shows the band could have made an interesting album had they been aloud to concentrate on their own songs. And it's a cheapy!
YouTube Link

4) Barclay James Harvest- Pools of Blue [Unreleased acetate recording]
Beautiful mellotron-led sounds from BJH, not a band I've ever given much time to or that have appealed, but this Beatles influenced slow-burner is well worth a listen. The BBC session version isn't too shabby either...
Amazon Link

5) Jacques Dutronc- Restons Français, Soyons Gaulois [French Vogue 7"]
Mr. Dutronc always gets a spin at the Broadcast Project nights, and this groovy little gem is always in the box. Breakbeat-y, as always, it's Jacques in full on lounge-funk mode. And the link below will take you to him performing it live on French telly back in the day...
YouTube Link