Excellent poppers part 6: Mixmaster Henry – our dub overlord

Tell your friends, rouse the neighbours – the most irregular feature ever to grace the side of a blog is back, and this time it’s in stereo. For you see excellent poppers, this is excellent poppers – where we look at some of the brilliant folk who help us, buy from us – or are just generally around the lovely world of Alcopop.

Today – we meet Henry, who’s mashed together two fine mixes for goFASTER>> and latterly Stagecoach… Normally you might think out paths would not cross… Alcopop would be drinking merrily in a dimly lit indie dance club, whilst Henry would be wedged in-between 2 fire engine-sized speakers at a smoky dub session – you’d be wrong though.

Now tell us….

1.) You are Henry and we’ve heard your face is magnificent… How do you plead? That’s a compliment indeed from the glowing visage of Alcopop – this is actually my “game face”, I have a barn full of alternative faces which I interchange for various purposes. I’m like a Worzel Gummidge for the E4+1 generation. I can’t get E4 round our way, reception’s shite.

2.) As a ‘mixmaster extraordinaire’ who recently put together a magnificent re-imagining of stagecoach’s ‘We Got Tazers’… What was your inspiration behind the mix? It was the result of a horrific cultural car-crash involving too many robot movies, the deconstruction of various words and phrases in the lyrics, a bloody-minded determination to crowbar a vocoder in at any opportunity, a creeping sense of impending apocalypse, and too much red wine. The short answer is- I got a bit carried away….

3.) And where else do you ply your musical trade? I work as a DJ in merry olde Oxford, occasionally London “and surrounding”, skipping between the overpriced corporate cocktail-sucking swanky places and the slightly hipper dives, such as the Po Na Na in Oxford. For it is there I play fortnightly Friday’s, which is a lovely mix of old and new indie, electro and eclectic beataroonies of many persuasions. Truthfully though, I’m at my happiest sitting for days on end in front of my funky old PC making beats and getting amazing and freaky sounds out of my lovely machines. They’re me bezzie mates they are.

Part 2, tomorrow…. Where we talk Collapsed Lung, Milli Vanilli and the possibility of a free phat Henry track… Ole!

goFASTER>> soundtrack Hollyoak’s The Morning After the Night Before

Mentioned last week that goFASTER>> are now darlings of screen as well as stage, but I didn’t realise that they’re basically running the new Hollyoaks spin-off ‘The Morning After the Night Before’ (below)… and as Rich put it, ‘basically they’ve used the whole modern education EP to soundtrack the series!!’

Goodtimes is the theme tune, which is particularly ace – and the band themselves feature really heavily in a couple of the episodes… Their handsome faces shimmering on student union stages from beginning to end.

Apart from the fact they failed to get anyone from Alcopop a cameo (poor form boys) it’s all good – Josh (aka Sonny Flood) from the show says in an interview with lastbroadcast.co.uk “There’s lots of live gigs, Josh has a bit of a run in with a roadie. There are actual bands – Go Faster are very good, they’re a local Liverpool band, I think they have an EP, they’re definitely worth checking out.”

I concur Josh… I concur. Indeed it’s available in the Alcopop shop, or on iTunes next time you’re browsing. The only question now remains as to which member of goFASTER>> will be stripping off for the 2010 ‘Hollyoaks Hunks’ calendar. My money’s on Murphy!

goFASTER>> kick out the Flammable Leisurewear jams in Hollyoaks

Bad acting galore may have ensued around them, but the consummate goFASTER>> were, as ever, the height of rock n’ roll professionalism as they smashed the hell out of the students union in Hollyoaks last week – opening, as I’m reliably informed, for a band who ‘sounded like CSS’.

Playing their first single released on Alcopop ‘Flammable Leisurewear’ – the episode was aired on the 1st July, and goes further to ensuring their scouse legendary status. I especially like the line ‘how’s your crotch’…

If you’re reading this today, or in the next few days you can watch the epic appearance over on 4OD around 5 minutes through the July 1st episode, but if you’re years into the future looking back – wondering where number 1 pop sensations goFASTER>> came from , then I’ve taken a really poorly rendered video of the appearance for your delectation and delight…

Enjoy -

Today I got out of bed at 6pm…

This is definitely cool, and has led me to feeling pretty smug about the scant few hours I’ve actually spent on my feet. Tomorrow however and it’s back to the grind – mail orders, emails, sorting out bots and bobs for the compilation… For while major labels slumber with a four day weekend. Life seems to go on for indies… Which is kinda cool J

Meanwhile though, I note that the rather acely namely ‘Die Shellsuit Die’ fanzine has nailed a pretty tasty review of the goFASTER>> ‘A Modern Education’ EP… They “paint huge scapes of totally pleasant and immeasurably radio friendly feel good pop in an entirely unapologetic way which is something pretty rare. Admittedly, no boundaries are pushed per sae, but actually; who cares? Combining punchy new wave indie with some genuinely impressive lyric writing; goFASTER >> seems on to a winner.”

Also, for those of you who haven’t seen – I noted, rather nostalgically, that Alcopop’s first ever act – Encyclopedia (ahhh – those old days) have slapped a couple of tracks on their MySpace, including a reworked version of ‘Get a drummer’ – which was one of the B-Sides on their ‘Emily’ single AKA Alcopop001 (which can still be purchased from the shop). Ace! Go and have a listen, cos they’re pretty super-ace power pop you should probably enjoy. Until then have a lovely weekend – and keep an eye on the blog as we’re announcing a very exciting new signing and release next week!

Happy Easter!

Who’s that band you work with… The ones with the shellsuit sleeve?

They’ve received a whole heap o’ plaudits have goFASTER>>, just recently Folly of Youth suggesting “the youthfulness of the band just leaps out of the speakers”. High Voltage add the caveat that “for all the hectic, elastic guitar-keyboard interplay and Haribo melodies, there seems to be a slightly more furrowed brow on the group this time around – as though they’ve moved on from songs about melting shellsuits and orange-skinned sunbed-dwellers to the weightier issues affecting the nation”.

But my goodness, they’ve no doubt ever heard anything quite as special as being reffed by magnificent legend Andrew WK! Yes indeed, the man is a partying hard super-boom legend, and was clearly quite taken with the boys from Liverpool.

Hooking up with our Kev on his recent sojourn loving New York City, oh yeah – New York City… Andrew himself was heard to remark “who are those guys you work with… You know, them with the shellsuit sleeves” – oh yes! It’s goFASTER>> who have obviously come to the attention of Andrew himself via their ‘Flammable Leisurewear’ single. Awesome stuff! I’m going to send him a copy of the EP and see if it’ll fulfill his incredibly high standards of partying hard…. I think it will!

goFASTER>> EP making the summer start early…!

Now currently landing on digital music platforms galore, on the shiny shelves of your favourite indie store – and of course fresh from the Alcopop shop (with a free 4 track EP if you’re very quick… Literally we’re down to the last 10 or so of these) – goFASTER>>’s magnificent debut EP ‘A Modern Education’ is out today, and already making it feel a lot like summer in Alcopop HQ.

The tracklisting for the EP is:
1. A Modern Education
2. Magazine Addiction
3. Good Times
4. You Better Watch Out
5. When the Last Note Sounds

And I guarantee you will love it! Not Ed described the musical treat thusly as “A delectable indie pop four piece from Liverpool who make music in the same lunch-box as Good Shoes and Look See Proof. The EP also has a Hot Club De Paris aura to it, in how the songs all entwine together like they have a big shoelace tied around them” – and I think he’s just about on the nail…. Take a listen to the scouse champs here, and get yourself a piece….

Oh – and don’t forget this EP is available as part of a ‘binge’ style mega-deal package with the My First Tooth EP and one of our rapidly dwindling red white crocodile on skateboard tees too… Ace! Get yourself truly alcopopped

goFASTER>> Alter the Press and My First Tooth impress the devil’s Tuna

It’s really gratifying when those knowledgeable souls out there in the great wide blogosphere take some of the Alcopop family to heart, and a couple of superb posts have been brought to my attention over the last couple of days which have brought a spark of delight to my otherwise grimly ‘not at SXSW’ soul…

Firstly a review of goFASTER>>s new EP A Modern Education from Alter the Press, who rated the record 4 out of 5, but also this feature on My First Tooth from the Devil Has the Best Tuna – who correctly pointed out the fresh new scene burgeoning from within the sleepy county of Northamptonshire (pictured courtesy of Taz etc).

The former said of the scouse posters that “goFaster>> are definitely on to a good thing. These 5 tracks shows they are a band that enjoy what they do and have so much energy whilst doing it. They certainly have the art of indie pop-punk done precisely as it should be. Don’t be surprised if goFaster>> go places in the future…” While the Devil was definitely into a bit of Ross and that’s the Tooth! (sorry, sorry)..

“My First Tooth craft subtle, beautiful lullabies that locate your heart strings and tug at them gently like a folkie strumming a guitar. You can have your heart melted to a pool of slush later this month when the band’s debut EP is issued via Alcopop Records.”

Awesome… And if any muso blogger types read this and fancy a piece of the Alcopop action – gis a yell and we’ll have a chat.. Handsome!

A Modern Education on the way – and Jack PoP on radio

Man – it’s been an absolute whirl since Alcopop descended upon Cheltenham last Friday – so apologies for lack of blog updates, and hearty congratulations to those of you who won a little something in the Alcopop shop. Obviously I’m gutted there were no big winners (a nose away from a 20/1 shot) to see the Alcopop shop emptying rather rapidly.. But everyone seemed to enjoy it – so all good fun.

Meanwhile, goFASTER>> are just days away from releasing their super hotly anticipated debut ‘A Modern Education’, and there are still a few of the first 100 left with bonus discs in the shop available to purchase… Pretty sure they’ll be gone by Monday though so get in quickly if you want the bonus disc – which includes 3 bonus tracks and two awesome remixes, one of which I may be posting on the blog soon (because it’s really rather epic).

Oh incidentally, as massive advocates of the black stuff (aka vinyl releases) – Stu from a radio station way down south recently did a phone interview with me about releasing records, and has posted it to be heard by all here. Don’t let my contribution put you off though as he talks to people from the likes of the Fly and TANOU too – and it’s really worth a listen. Ace!

Meanwhile Kevs gone to SXSW – lucky bastard – here’s an artists impression of his probable actions so far…

A* grade goFASTER>> artwork

It’s been a quiet day in Alcopop HQ today, before the storm no doubt, but while others amongst the industry have no doubt been a-beavering away on all sorts of musical related business, I’ve been listening to Cornershop (Lessons learned from Rocky I to Rocky III is no doubt quite the tune), wondering how I can make dishing out free MP3s sexy again (I thing I’ve got it you know) all the while planning a storming set for my DJ set at The Purple Turtle tonight in Oxford.

One exciting piece of Monday news however is that the finished artwork for goFASTERs upcoming EP, A Modern Education, has arrived courtesy of the talented Paul from Hot Club de Paris – and I think it looks rather nice. Litre upon litre of blackboard paint, and no doubt several packets of chalk down – he’s gone for that schoolyard charm, leaving me itching for a retro episode of Grange Hill (did anyone else used to watch that with their mum ). And here it is…. I hope you like!

Oh and incidentally, former Alcopop favourites (and now signed to the pretty damn ace Fear and Records) data.select.party are playing a FREE show at The Old Blue Last in London town tonight. If you’re around you should definitely go! The new album no doubt sounds awesome – and if you have an extra three sheets to spare on top of that, there are a few copies of their debut single limited to 500  (somehow) still available from the shop. Go figure…

goFASTER>> UK tour

Quite frankly you’d be mad to miss it! Now I know the EP isn’t out for a few weeks, but diaries fill up quickly in the ‘fuck-it-all, lets go crazy and dance every night cos’ if we’re not partying we may as well be dead’ climate of 2009 – so you better pick your closest gig locale and get ready to slam some indie shapes.

22 Feb – Norwich UEA w/ the Wombats

5 Mar – Kidderminster iDle Hands @ The Tap House

12 Mar – Oxford Jericho Tavern w/Arrows of Love (Ex Hush the Many)

13 Mar – Chester Telford’s Warehouse

14 Mar – Liverpool Barfly

16 Mar – Newcastle The End Bar

21 Mar – Lancaster TBC

28 Mar – Manchester Dry Bar w / the Jump Off

Look what you might miss out on if you don’t…!