New Family Machine video

It’s Sunday, I feel incredibly tired after a particularly broad weekend which took in the sunnier side of the UK – but all is well at Alcopop Towers, and whilst filtering through a few of the weekends straggling emails I stumbled across this rather lovely homemade snippet of film recorded by old Alcopop favourites ‘The Family Machine’.

By their own admission, “it’s true that during those chilly  post Christmas winter months Family Machine have been spending a fair amount of time living in our burrows below ground” – but they’ve obviously had a game of Mastermind and a sock to hand, because they’ve created this little gem.

You have a look – I’m off to bed…

Alcopop dominate London in football(nearly) and all-day gigs – a majestic weekend!

So the blog has been rather barren over the last couple of days (I’ve been moving house.. Sorry guv) – and anyone stumbling across it, as well as downloading the excellent new free Family machine single, could be forgiven for angrily kicking tumbleweed as they make their way through old posts, wondering where the hell the updates are. Well – here they are!

Firstly – thanks loads to everyone who popped down to Alcopopalooza on Saturday and indulged in a day of booze, bands and burgers. A great time seemed to be had by all, and amongst the piles of BBQ meat, flowing booze and bustling crowd, a fantastic line up of acts rocked us from 4.30pm till very late, with This City, Pavilion, Cut the Blue Wire, Paul Steel and Stars and Sons amongst the many highlights. Look out for Alcopopalooza 2 in, oooh, about a year.

However, It is with sad news that I must bring you news that, unbelievably, Alcopop Records did not (as boldly predicted on these here pages) triumph in Sundays BSM 5-a-side tournament, despite a series of epic performances. Making our way through the tropical heat of Wormwood Scrubs, London, Alcopop’s brave and hardy soldiers – myself, Thom, Manus, Si, Leigh and grandson of legendary Scotland and Rangers forward Torry Gillick Darren (pictured doing his best Gattuso impression amongst the hands-on-the-hips gang below) – took to the field in a tough looking Group D.

Battering Banquet Records 5-0 in what can best be described as total football, we went on to draw 2-2 with the very energetic Rolo Tomassi, and topped it all off with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory against Gold Artists (featuring many of Pavilion) coping with wave after wave of attack as our savaged feet blistered in the midday(ish) sun. 7 points and a goal difference of plus 6 was surely enough… But no! And as the now very tired Banquet shower capitulated 9-1 to Rolo Tomassi, the hopes and dreams of Team Pop were shattered, leaving us missing out on making it through by the odd goal.

Congratulations to Punktastic who triumphed…. For more info, head over here to Kev’s BSM blog – or here for the vitriolic Punktastic thread toasting their own victory.

Other than that, my time has been pretty much spent between shifting beds up many stairs, and listening to the new Cut the Blue Wire EP (coming out September time – it’s truly stunning!) So any band wanting to sign their lives away to Alcopop and garner rock star fame and riches (or send us a demo at least), please note the change of address.

Oh – and did anyone notice that Sam Isaac was the ‘Hottest record in the world’ on Zane’s show… Awesome

New Family Machine single out today – and its free!

They aint half good to you… And those handsome chaps from Alcopop album releasees, the Family Machine, have safely signed, sealed and delivered their new EP to the blog. And it’s free, Free, FREE. Available to download by simply clicking the shiny button below – why not take a moment to grab the 2 track single and slap them on your iTunes. Feel free to send them to pals the length and breadth of the country, nay globe – and make the Family Machine your new pals.

If you’re an Alcopop regular, chances are yo’ve heard the guys before – but if not, then take a look at what gigwise.com had to say – “An album that promotes the dreamer in all and is folk-acoustic pop gold ready to be sieved into the collection of the daring and broad-minded… The acoustic influences are appropriately attached in wide-eyed childlike naivety and create a blend of powerfully emotive songs that walk the side of raucous masculinity and poignant delicacy.”

You see? Alex Zane digs it too!

SIde A: Flowers by the Roadside – Side B: Let yourself know better….

Video clues to find fruity CDs in Oxforshire trees!

Long live the Family Machine!

Of all the bands ever to come a wandering along the Alcopop rosta, charming us with their witty banter and crafting glorious releases now and then – if someone was to ring and say “some of your lot are rampaging around parks hanging CDs on trees” – I’d know it could be only one!

For not only do these boys have gloriously fresh minds so far removed from ‘conventional reality’ that
you could hang them in the Tate Modern, but they are all about sharing their music through rather exotic means (must be an Oxford thing). Whether its hanging CDs on trees, allowing them to float away on hot air balloons, or sending them to sea in bottles – make sure you’re always keeping an eye to the ground (and sky) for FM masterpieces released into the wild.

Of course, if you’re not lucky enough to catch one, you can always buy an album from the shop for but 7 sheets – but if you’re the more dedicated type, take a look at these clues – and bag yourself the fruit of the loins of the Family Mahine – mmm mmm!

Free Mp3, Albums on trees, bribes galore and West Coutry actors

Sorry about the lack of blog updates this week Alcopoppers – have been away for most of it, and with a fair bit in the pipeline, most of my time has been taken up with mailorders, gigs and the like (woe is me eh ). Oh – and seeing the Lord of the Rings play, which was incredibly slick, and pretty good fun – but starring a Frodo Baggins who sounded more like a farm hand from the Archers than Elijah Wood… Still, had it not been for Peter Jackson, I would have assumed that all Hobbits sounded like hey had been brought up West Country way – so it’s probably his fault.

Either way, a bit of Family Machine related news for anyone living in the Oxfordshire area or beyond – that not only are the boys treating some fortuitous types to the fruit of their musical loins by hanging up albums around the county on lucky trees, but also playing a free in-store show at Chalkys Records in Banbury on April 17^th.

Also – with the new release date of Hush the Many (Heed the Few)’s wonderful single Revolve fast approaching (come on the 28^th April!), Nima has requested your help in spreading the word if you’re so inclined. All his ideas are up on this MySpace blogpost over here, and if anyone wouldn’t mind popping in a request for airplay from their favourite Radio DJ, posting up the flyer online or in person – or dropping a bulleting whatever about it – we would be most grateful… What’s more, bribes ARE on offer… Your help will not go unrewarded.

Also – newest stallion’s to pop their snouts inside the Alcopop stable, Cut the Blue Wire, have a free track up on their MySpace page to download free – which is kind of them. It’s called ‘Silence of the Guns’, and it’s fuckin’ ace!

Much love x Jack POP

HTM rock Oxford, whilst Family Machine roll Stockport

Majestic, atmospheric and bloody ace! Just some of the words used to describe the epic Hush the Many (Heed the Few) gig in Oxford last night, and despite massive problems with the sound somewhat blighting the overall experience, the show was awesome. Nima had clearly had a few – his witty banter lovingly charming as ever -, but the power with which he belted out the sometimes rocking’, sometimes heart-rendingly beautiful ballads left all in attendance truly moved.

Single B-side ‘Story End’ especially proved an especially beautiful moment of the set, with the song shoehorned into the set at the request of HTM’s guitarist – mixed girl/boy vocals from aforementioned Nima, and bass player Alex tender and exposed beautifully. I guess I would say this – but you really should make an effort to see this band live. Truly phenomenal, and they handed out champagne… What more do you want? Oh, and the rather awesome photos below were taken by Marc West. Cheers mate.

Meanwhile, recent Alcopop releases Family Machine have taken their own brand of superb, atmospheric pop – and well impressed up in’t North our lad! Pure FM in Stockport are making ‘You Are the Family Machine’ their featured album tonight, and the show can be caught between 8-10pm tonight at www.pureradio.org.uk. Listen! You must!

Flowers by the Roadside video

Apologies for the distinct lack of blog posts over the easter weekend, and I hope you all had a cracking one filled with plenty of eggs, booze and cuddly things that are generally associated with easter. Myself, Kev and another pal Rich headed to the Scottish border – where we took in the metropolis of Gretna (and the 3 pubs it offered), Livingstone and Ediburgh. More about that tomorrow, but for now – I should point out this cracking video recently produced by Alcopop champs Family Machine.

You know how when you buy a samosa, enjoy it a little too much and get run over… That kinda thing yeah? Well this tour-de-force (directed by John Spira) is a gorgeous little song about roadside tributes, and the fact that if Jamie (lead singer FM) was to die, he wouldn’t want his friends to leave flowers by the accident spot – that wasn’t the place he loved, that was just the place he died… A fascinating sentiment when you think about it.

Watch it here , and if you like – the album is now available in the shop priced at just £7… Oh, and look out for some well acted ‘grief’ aroud the 1.39 mark (ahem…)

Raise your glasses to St. Patrick…

For Monday 17^th is a great day – as not only are DSP playing with Tubelord afore an audience of genial geniuses down at the Social in London Town, W1, but Alcopop’s very own Family Machine finally unleash their debut album ‘You are the Family Machine’ into the world.

Cherish it – good alcopopper, for behind the plastic case and delicious starry artwork (that is likely to make you wish for dusk, lush springy grass and perhaps a smoke/drink or two as the evening meanders on) there is an explosion of a record. So for the ultimate in expansive summer pop mixed with wistful melodies, go here to buy – or catch the Family Machine live across the country, no doubt with a host of fair maidens and unicorns trailing in their wake.

“…a fantastic album of semi-acoustic pop, that can make you dance on the tables downing sangria one minute, and slump weeping into your whisky the next. Highly recommended” say oxfordbands.com, and Nightshift aren’t shy with their praise either branding it “...an album of sweet, fun pop music that carefully manages to mix emotional shifts and understated wit… a treat“. Russell from russellsreviews.co.uk says “…this is the album “Road to Rouen” should have been or the type of thing Teenage Fan Club should be achieving … A triumph” – and there’s plenty more praise out there.

Indeed, I’ve tried in vain to film my reaction to the CD all day, but failed, in a way that only NES can succeed. So take a look at this brilliantly overblown piece of advertising – and read ‘Alcopop’.

And hopefully see you tonight…

It’s coming… Be afraid – be terribly afraid!

I’m afraid you’ll just have to watch the video….

Saturday musings…

Sorry about the lack of blog posts in the last few days – rather rambunctious nights have filled this week in such far flung and glamorous locations as Guildford, Birmingham and er.. Wantage, and as such my online presence has been week – preferring instead to catch up on the old mail orders and put in some groundwork for some exciting new stuff coming up in the next few months for Alcopop.

It was with some pleasure however, whilst taking in Black Kids in Oxford the other night, I noted that The Family Machine (album out March on Alcopop) were plastered all over the front cover of infamous local mag ‘Nightshift’ – with a feature that was not so much positive, as positively orgasmic about our boys. Check it out if you’re in the local area. Meanwhile, the goFASTER>> vinyls are literally whipping off the shelves – perhaps partly to do with the fact they’ve just revealed they’re playing 5 more tourdtes with The Wombats in close to 3,000 capacity venues. Boomers!

Other than that, I’m off to check out the Latvian scene at the tail end of next week (look out for a very eastern european themed release schedule in 2008 ). RIP Jeremy Beadle, the obvious little hand gags aside, as he was a legend – and now I’m off to consume unbelievable quantities of booze and make the weekend wha it should be – a very messy one.

Scrumpy!Scrumpy!Scrumpy!