A few months back BBC Four did a season on British women in pop, calling it something snappy like 'Humans with vaginas that can sing and play instruments'. To be honest, we missed most of it, mainly because we were worried Geri Halliwell might be in one of the documentaries from the past decade or something. Life can turn very dark when Geri Halliwell's around.
Anyway, what we did see was pretty spectacular and revolved solely around the incredible Kate Bush. They showed, in its entirety, a Christmas special she hosted for the BBC back in 1979. Now, we've all been pretty pissed at Christmas, but imagine settling down with your family and a few sherrys to watch TV when this appears onscreen:
Granny would be asking who'd slipped her the LSD.
This clip of 'Ran Tan Waltz' features Kate Bush wearing a fake beard, a male dancer in a nappy and the lyrics, "She'll run back in fright / If she picks on a dick / That's too big for her pride."
Seriously, why don't pop stars get their own Christmas specials anymore? Oh yeah, because they're all so bloody dull in comparison. Who else could get away with leaping around like a crazed goth or a dustbin-dwelling rock chick? I think we'd all rather see this then another GrahamJohnNortonBarrowman talent contest on ice.
Wouldn't we?
We posted a thing on La Roux's next single a few days ago and then the link got taken down by her record company people because, let's face it, her current single is still at number 2 in the UK charts and who needs another song coming along and distracting all the attention...
Oh, erm, here's the official video and it's not a cheap-looking '80s homage like the last one, which is a bit of a relief.
Watch it here.
Two points:
- Little bit like that BBC Radio 1 Xtra ident thingy mixed with a L'Oreal advert
- She looks mightily uncomfortable. Not just in the video, but seemingly in her own skin. It makes us like her more, just to clarify.
Hi there, you a fan of 'Paper Planes' by M.I.A? Really, oh cool. How about *Santigold's 'Creator'? Well then, why not wrap your listening equipment round this tasty club banger. It's called 'Hold The Line' and is by a duo called Major Lazer who you may know as producers du jour, Diplo and Switch (they had a hand in both the above songs in case that wasn't clear). 
Their debut album is due out in June and entitled Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do, which, as titles go, is a bit too similar to that Goldie Lookin' Chain song from about 5 years ago, but I doubt very much that the two are connected. There's a whole hilarious ('hilarious') backstory that goes with it, something to do with Major Lazer being a soldier in a zombie war. It turns out, tragically, that his arms were blown off and replaced with giant lasers...
This song features Santigold and Mr Lexx, as well as a telephone ring, horses neighing and some beats that are off the chart. I believe it was Gwen Stefani who said, "this shit is bananas".
* We didn't get to write about this before, but Santogold, as she was, had to become Santigold due to some kind of legal battle with an unknown band who already owned the rights to the name. We didn't just spell her name wrong like complete morons.
We're not ones to ditch an act when their second single bombs in the UK charts and radio treat them like a swine flu victim, i.e. they keep their distance and ask that all tissues are disposed off in the correct manner (it's not a great analogy, granted, but it is topical and that's what we're all about here - The Apprentice, Twitter, Tinchy Stryder, The Wire, Gurkhas, Politician's expenses, Champions League football, etc).
So, VV Brown is back back back with her third single 'Shark In The Water' and it's a real pop belter. She's ditched the whole 'doo-wop indie' shtick and comes across a lot less self-conscious than before. Plus, the chorus is unexpectedly HUGE and should finally see her getting some recognition and making a bit of money, which, let's face it, is what we all want right? Right.
You may have noticed that isn't the official video, but that's all to do with this silly argument youtube and the record companies are having. Pray it all gets resolved soon, I know we are.
If you would like to be part of this unique* celebration, please send us your postal address (to mcragg@hotmail.com). We can't say much more then that at the moment, but the first ten people to reply will receive a little something something in the post. (Gemma, whoever you are, do send us your address. You seem to actually read this bloody thing!)
Here's to another 12 months...well, let's just see how we go shall we?
* not very unique at all
Musick is 1 year old! 
Pretty amazing considering all the things that have happened since we started. We've survived the credit crunch (or the economic downturn, or recession, which ever you prefer), the passing of Jade, swine flu (well, so far, but if it can claim a member of N-Dubz then perhaps no-one's safe), Ronan Keating getting to number 1 on the album chart, Eoghan Quigg, the list could go on and on. We've celebrated the return of Portishead, The Horrors, Beyoncé and Beck and seen the emergence of new acts like La Roux, Lykke Li, Little Boots, Wavves and VV Brown. Yet still we wait for that new Missy Elliott album!
To celebrate this momentous occasion we will be doing some very exciting, era-defining things. No doubt there will be a huge list of bands waiting to take part, either by offering up EXCLUSIVES or popping round with bottles of wine and nibbles.
We can't wait, you can't wait and yet wait is all we can do. All will be revealed very soon...i.e. when we can think of what to do.
Another Bank Holiday! Does anyone know what this one is for? I know the last one was because a bunny sacrificed itself for the good of the people, but what about this one? Is it just to celebrate the start of May? Seems a bit over the top.
BUY THIS
Primary Colours by The Horrors
Oh, it's very good isn't it? We finally got our copy - i.e. we brought it - and have spent the morning listening to it over and over again. Weirdly, whilst enjoying it's droning synths, guitar effects and Faris' monotonous vocals we were busy cleaning the skull of a deer...in the kitchen sink...using a toothbrush (an old one!). We checked online and this does indeed make us goths, which is nice. Truly one of the albums of 2009.
DOWNLOAD THIS
Shadows by Au Revoir Simone
First single from the stately Still Night, Still Light album, this is all rather lovely. At times these three young ladies can forget to pack an actual tune along with all the vintage keyboards and dresses, but this has a really sweet melody and the chorus is proper memorable and that.
GET THESE IF YOU'VE WON SOME MONEY
I Feel Cream by Peaches
Braveface by Esser
If you've got some extra cash lying around - perhaps you stole it from your parents or a small child, or maybe you won some money on a scratchcard - then why not purchase one of these two albums, or even both. One is a filthy, gyrating sex-pest attracting electro-pop behemoth, whilst the other is a genre-splicing bundle of energy in musical form sung by an Essex lad with a big quiff. It's hard to know which is which, but we'll leave that to you to figure out.
