I Eat Music

When I’m not tiring myself out being nerdy about all things music, I like to relax by being nerdy about all things comedy. First point of call, of late, is something that bridges the gap between both worlds.

The ‘Marsha Meets…’ podcast sees Xfm DJ (that’s the music bit, I wouldn’t want you to miss it) Marsha Shandur interviews one of the world’s very finest stand-up comedians each week, with each giving interesting and amazing insights into their craft. So far Marsha’s met Richard Herring, Brendon Burns, Kevin Eldon, Isy Sutty, Rich Fulcher, Marcus Brigstocke, Chris Addison, and Milton Jones to name but a few.

This week is the perfect week to start listening, as she speaks to the excellent Jim Jeffries, who’s always a great interviewee (further proof of that here). He talks violent reactions to his jokes, getting away with saying “cunt” in America, and his love of musical theatre.

www.xfm.co.uk/onair/podcasts/marsha-meets-the-podcast

Since the split of The Beta Band, frontman Steve Mason has released solo material as the eclectic King Biscuit Time and the more hip hop-focused Black Affair. Now he’s back with a new project, this time working under his own name.

Taken from his new Richard X-produced album, ‘Boys Outside’, which is due for release in March next year, ‘All Come Down’ sounds like one of the finest songs The Beta Band never wrote, a simple piece which echoes Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ in places and is driven by Steve’s amazing talent for writing vocal harmonies.

You don’t have to take my word for it, though. You can download the track for free from this little link, with more info at the official website link below.

www.stevemasontheartist.com

Featuring Mew’s Jonas Bjerre, Guy Berryman from Coldplay, A-ha’s Magne Furuholmen and songwriter/producer Martin Terefe, Apparatjik made their debut single, ‘Electric Eye’, available for free via their official website yesterday.

Only the second track to emerge from the project, they don’t make it easy to find, and when you do it’s possible you’ll be put off by the fact that it’s a nine minute track split into three parts. Okay, it’s not going to be up everyone’s street, but trust me, it is worth a listen. Starting off very Mew-like, it takes a weirder turn about a third of the way in, and again two minutes from the end.

It’s an intriguing taste of a project that could turn out to be the best thing ever or head down a route of impenetrable self-indulgence. It’ll be fun finding out.

www.apparatjik.com

With a skip in our step, we can announce that Finnish ambient pop types Husky Rescue will be releasing their third album, ‘Ship Of Light’, on 30 Jan. The first single from it, ‘We Shall Burn Bright’, will be released on 7 Dec, but look, you can get it right now as a free download, simply by plugging your email address into their website. I suggest you do, as the song is a real treat.

Building slowly over five minutes to the closest Husky Rescue get to rocking out, it’s packed full of ideas and smart little twists and turns you won’t see coming.

www.husky-rescue.com

From the sound of her debut EP, Ninja Tune’s latest signing Emika is someone we’ll be listening to and talking about a lot next year. The EP’s title track, ‘Drop The Other’, sounds like a squeaky clean R&B track that’s been taken out on a heavy night and then left alone in a strange town to find its way home at 4am. In the rain.

It’s catchy and definitely has pop in its heart, but it also sounds damaged and subdued. Glitchy piano flicks in and out of frame, drums skitter along underneath and Emika’s soft, effortless-sounding vocals drift quietly over the top of it all.

It’s not out til January, but Ninja Tune are already giving away a Scuba remix of ‘Drop The Other’, which holds the essence of the original but gives it a bit more kick, right now. To download it, click the link below.

www.ninjatune.net/emika