Coming to America with Eddie Murphy and me

Right poppers – am off to the U.S of A for the week, so shall be leaving the blog in the able hands of handsome Kev (pictured on the left below). If anyone who digs this label is over in NYC, gis’ a shout and we’ll have a beer or something.

Eddie Murphy here I come!

All change on LastFM

 

 

So it’s happened – and about time too! Another shot into the bows of major labels, popular online personal radio station Last FM has somehow coerced the powers that be into allowing people to listen to whatever the hell they like online – for free, Free, FREE! It’s all explained over on Mashable, but the long and short of it is that users will be able to play full-length tracks up to 3 times, at which point they will be asked to sign up for a new Last.fm subscription service, where they will be able to enjoy unlimited listening.

Yup, and the other good news for listeners, and I’d argue, independent labels like ourselves who rely on the hardcore music fans like you, is that advertising revenue will be generated and paid directly too said labels, to be passed onto the bands – thus doing that little bit to help those releasing genuinely brilliant music to people who know what they like. After all (and I perhaps sound like a naive advert now), I think Last FM is a great way of introducing music to real indie fans, who don’t mind paying a few quid to own that limited slab of vinyl, joining a dedicated singles club (ahem) or picking up a CD at a show sometime.

Of course – the major loser in this is potentially MySpace, which may see artists leave in droves when the cheques from Last FM start popping through the door – but with exposure being as important as it is, I personally doubt it’ll have that much impact. What it does mean though, is that the Alcopop Last FM page – managed by the majestic Coxy – is the place to be!

Colin Murray is The Family Machine…

And as the radio 1 juggernaut rumbles on, it is with pride and pleasure that we notice it (and especially Colin Murray) is stopping off along the way for a tasty Alcopop or too. That’s right – for not only did the wee Irish champ give the Family Machine their first (of many) Radio 1 play for the upcoming new album (and former free downloadable EP) on Tuesday, featuring the song Got It Made – but he decided to give the majestic Sideways by our boy Sam Isaac a spin the following day.

We don’t know what his exact tipple is (although my chums once met him at the Northern Ireland vs. England match and said he was a heavy boozer) but anytime your round our way, I’ll get you one in Colin! And does anyone else think that his Fighting Talk on Radio 5 is one of the best damn sport-based radio shows around? Me too!

Meanwhile, Kev (Alcopop and BSM) has gone on holiday to New York to see, amongst other things, a solo, intimate Andrew WK piano gig on Sunday… Lucky f**ker! J He’s got a bit of a guestlist too, so if any die-hard Alcopopper happens to be in the big Apple this Sunday, ‘gis a shout and I’ll see if he can get you in (you never know).

DSP play all the best tours!

It may have been a good year ago that we released DSP’s single ‘This charm is charmless’ on Alcopop records to much acclaim, but just a quick post to let you know that things are looking rather rosy for the lovely lads from Eastbourne/London town in terms of up and coming live dates. Not only have they got a pretty sexy looking few tour dates coming up with Nottingham’s finest I Was a Cub Scout and the ‘make your ears bleed in a fuc**n good way’ Rolo Tomassi in early February, but as everybodys least favourite month lingers on, they’ve only gone and set themselves up with Furthest Drive Home, Maple State and Tellison for a few more shows!

Go check their MySpace for more details, make sure ot catch them on the road for a ‘les savy fav-inspired frenzy’ (Disorder Magazine) and remember that a few copies of their very limited (to 500) debut CD still remain in the shop…. I would imagine for not too much longer mind…

Sayonara

Exceptional Poppers #1

It’s always been a heartfelt Alcopop tradition to love and cherish each one of our customers/friends and associates who release records/ pop by the gigs, buy a CD or send us lovely comments – and as such I’ve decided to launch a small feature on the blog about some of the greatest Alcopop associates… Whether it’s passion, commitment, fame or just a brilliant name, every few weeks we’ll be featuring a particular Alcopop favourite.

This week, Richard Gombault – Midget front man, responsible for arguably the best indie pop mini album of the 90s (and thus the inspiration of our label name), headline performer of the inaugural club night – and purchaser of several copies of Alcopopular compilation Vol 1. (available now from our shop featuring Midget’s My Infatuation) – here he undertakes a brief interview especially for our blog.

Speak on good sir…

Your favourite Alcopop?
A ferocious concoction called “Strobe”. I don’t think they make it anymore which is probably just as well as I’ve lost entire days as a result of suckling at its toxic teat.

Most cherished vice?
It would have been smoking but I gave up about 3 years ago so I am now espousing virtue rather than vice.

Any news on what Midget are up to – is the long awaited new album ever to see the light of day?
In a word, hopefully! As always, we have the greatest of intentions and our plans do include recording a new album at some point so watch this space…not literally, obviously, that would be foolish.

Your best ever mid-90s indie anthem (Self appreciation more than allowed )?
On and On – The Longpigs. What a tune.

Who do you think is more handsome – Jack or Kev?
An amalgam would be the ideal here

Any other words of wisdom?
Yes, “milt”.

And incidentally, all pictures were taken from Richard’s facebook page with absolutely no permission granted. Cheers pal – Alcopop salutes you (oh and Lee who’s superace too!)

New Years revolution

Firstly – congratulations to Ian Perry, a popular figure here in Alcopop Towers, not only because of his sterling membership of our inaugural singles club, but also because he is soon to be the proud owner of the Alcopopular walkman! For just a few moments after the clock struck midnight, he had snared his copy of Alcopopular vol. 2, and in the process, cemented his ownership of musical history – nice one sir!

But as well as fielding orders for 2008’s hottest cassette, drinking myself to a bloody stupor and shivering in the cold watching Bristol City edge out Coventry on New Years Day (weep) – I’ve bought the world’s hottest trainers (they look straight out of Back to the Future II, glow in the dark, have pumps on the tongues and are shown below– ace!) I’ve also crafted the following New Years Resolutions which I aim to stick wholeheartedly by:

1.) Get myself a ‘F*@k Silver Sun’ T-Shirt by any means necessary

2.) Discover the ultimate cocktail, crafted only with out of date booze

3.) Go on a brief musical tour of Ireland, preferably with no sleep

4.) Discover the new Helen Love

5.) Persuade the original Helen Love to play live at an Alcopop night

6.) Get a small personal item stolen at a European festival I’ve never been too before

7.) Get some seriously cool Alcopop! T-Shirts on the market, and encourage Andrew WK to model one

8.) Watch a violent derby-day football match in an eastern European country with the away fans

9.) What ever happens, don’t cut my hair

 

 

Alcopop and ! split

It is with a sad face, and many tears, that we must announce the imminent departure of ‘!’ from the Alcopop label, due to irreconcilable musical and spiritual differences. Once a proud feature of all that Alcopop (formerly Alcopop!) stood for, the recent climate of change in the music industry, coupled with confusion about where to put apostrophes – has left this split inevitable.

Jack and Kev Alcopop (formerly Jack and Kev Alcopop!) announced in a brief official statement to the press that “the parting has been on good terms, and was nothing to do with the recent spate of late night cavortigs ‘!’ has allegedly been involved in around Camden, with a certain coke-fuelled model and up-and-coming rap star.”

‘!’ refused to comment.

Christmas is dead – long live Alcopop!

 

Ah what a great time Christmas is… Friends and family getting merrily battered all around, and only I – fuelled by weeks of previous bingeing to get myself verily into the spirit of it all, sober enough to listen to the barking dogs, rambling (yet admittedly insightful) commentaries on life, the universe and everything – and what better way to end it all than with an update to the blog – to say what – I don’t know? Other than to wish you all a merry f’in Christmas, and to thank you all for sticking with us in our inaugural year…. If I had a cap I’d doff it.

Like her majesty – I’m likely to be screening net year’s message live on YouTube (what’s wrong with old mother beeb) but unlike her majesty – we’re going to be releasing next years hottest indie talent between now and then, so keep an eye on the blog and stay Alcopopular!

Now I’m off to sink some more booze, write a Christmas song that will chart at no. 2  next year, earning me an incredible amount of riches, and plan some overenthusiastic new years resolutions… Bonus!

Oh – and look out for the first release of 2008 – which is going to be a compilation of fine, fine bands – and there’s a tasty prize for the person that pre-orders their copy nearest to the release moment of 00:01 on January 1^st, 2008.. More details to follow xx

Why not buy the Sam Isaac single?

And why not indeed? As you will have found out from the previous Alcoblogs stretching back over the last few weeks, Mr Isaac is the latest of our releases (in conjunction with our good pals over at BSM) – and has been picked up and cherished by the likes of Jo Whiley, Steve Lamacq and MySpace to name a few – and his breathtaking new single ‘Sideways’ is out today! The mellow, yet uplifting, acoustic slab of loveliness can be heard over on Sam’s MySpace page, and purchased in our shop, good indie stores across the land – and more pertinently on iTunes for just 79p!

And if you’re thinking, but what else could I buy with the loose 79p in my pocket – think no more as we’ve got drunk, pissed off a Camden shop owner by utilising a number of his goods without paying for them and done the research for you. Sure, you could buy one of the best singles of 2007, or perhaps you’d be better served with this – a small discoloured tub of cloves… You decide!

The Family Machine on TV

Awesome work from Alcopop’s very own…