2014 review by Vigo Thieves

Anyone who has read this blog will know what a huge fan I am of Vigo Thieves. Having spent considerable time with them over the last 2 or 3 years I am also a big fan of their bassist Gordon Phipps - a guy with a huge passion for life and music.

I caught up with Gordon to find out what bands, albums and tunes he had enjoyed through 2014. As always, he's turned me on to some crackers, I particularly like the White tune.

1. What singles/songs that have been released in 2014 have stood out for you? 

My memory is pretty fucked but here goes:

Atom Tree - Die for your love - First heard on the TITP bye bye balado video. Majestic song. Seen them live at electric fields too.

Augustines - You got nothing to lose but your head - Heard loads of people talking about them but never heard them until I heard this awesome piece of emotive rock.

Crash Club feat. Ian Mackinnon - Recondition - Brilliant groove to the track and great vocal from Ian

Jim Valentine - Make you Mine - Class sleaze rock tune

White - Living Fiction - Bumped into these guys at Loopallu and told us they'd started a new band. Checked this track out and was blown away!

Kasabian - Bumblebee - Bombastic track which was obviously made to be played live and loud

2 Bears - Not this time - Discovered on 6music. Missed them at Tut's because Barry wouldn't go with me

Jamie T - Zombie - Great come back track with a bouncy chorus

The Stepkids - Moving Pictures - Another 6 music discovery with a great hook laden chorus

2. What albums released in 2014 have you enjoyed?

Courteeners - Concrete Love - Absolutely love this band and it was an honour tour with them. That Friday night at The Barras will live with me for a long time! Also seen them live at Bellahouston Park supporting The Killers.

Catfish And The Bottlemen - Great to see these boys finally getting signed and releasing a cracking debut album.  Caught them live this year at Broadcast early on then on the T Break stage at TITP not long before us.

First Aid Kit - Another superb album from the Swedish sisters. Full of soaring melodies and harmonies. Saw them live at The Old Fruitmarket at what was a truly stunning gig in a unique venue.

3. What old music/bands have you discovered/gone back to in 2014?

Fleetwod Mac - Rumours - A band I have never got into then I was in HMV and Rumours was one of the cds you could buy at the counter for £2.99 so I thought why not? Totally loved it and it soundtracked many a summers road trip!

Monaco - Delved into one of Hooky's side projects a bit further. Everyone knows 'what do you want from me' but there is a lesser known track called 'Shine (someone who needs me) which is just a phenomenal piece of 90's pop. Almost like discovering an unreleased New Order gem.

The National - High Violet - A band I was initially put off of because it seemed like music for beard scratchers but how wrong was I? Stevie and Barry have been into them for ages (both beardy) I finally succumbed when Stevie bought me a ticket to go see them at the Usher Hall. I bought High Violet and was blown away. I now have it on double gatefold vinyl as well!

4. What has been the musical highlight of 2014 for you?

All Vigo Thieves gigs because I'm selfish like that:

• 02 ABC 29th March - Pyro and beach balls!
• King Tuts 30th April - Supporting the Fratellis for the Sunday Mail Centenary Fund
• T in The Park 13th July - Always a pleasure to play at Scotland's biggest and best festival
• KOKO London 25th July - Epic 12 hour journey down on one of the hottest days of summer but what a phenomenal gig!
• Sneaky Pete's Edinburgh 26th September - First sold out show in the capital was one of the sweatiest gigs of the year!
• Loopallu 27th September - First on, no bother. Great crowd turned out to see us in our earliest gig of the year 12.30pm!
• Glasgow Barrowlands 31st October - Supporting Courteeners. Massive crowd in for us. Special moment seeing all the VIGO DAFT tshirts in the crowd!

5. What are you plans for 2015?

To be alive and keep spreading VIGO DAFTNESS around the country!

So I had started the year quite well in terms of regular blog posts but a rather hectic 6 weeks or so through March and into April and then a lovely holiday in the South of France has meant that I have really not posted or blogged about a number of things that I have wanted to. So count on this as a round up of my albums of 2012 so far...I had originally intended to do reviews for all of them!

Expect my next installment to include; Admiral Fallow, Grimes, Miaoux Miaoux and Dexys.

2 Bears - Be Strong

Joe Goddard from Hot Chip and friends have produced an album that is practically a love letter to dance music and clubbing. Opener 'The Birds & The Bees' is perfect for a sunny day, 'Time In My Mind' sounds like something Mike Skinner may have mis-placed, 'Work'is heavier and progressive while 'Church' is suitably moving. A great album.

New Build - Yesterday was Lived and Lost

Felix and Simon from Hot Chip/LCD Soundsystem formed their own label and band to show that it isn't just Joe and Alexis from Hot Chip that have all the songwriting talent. Live they combine guitar pop with funk, soul and house...they are just as good on record.'Medication' is brilliant soulful guitar pop, 'Do You Not Feel Loved?' would fit effortlessly on to any Hot Chip record and 'Finding Reasons' is laid back bliss.

Lightships - Electric Cables

Lightships is Gerry Love from Teenage Fanclubs 'solo' project. A number of years in the making it has all the trademarks that Love has practically licensed during his years with Teenage Fanclub. Gorgeous vocals, stunning harmonies, blissful guitar, plenty of references to the sun, sunshine and city living....

Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

Opening with the tremendous 'Hold On', Alabama Shakes set their stall from the word go - raw and soulful. An old school garage band. The guitars, production and vocals are all served raw and pure. Turn it up and blast it out. Brittany Howard has an astonishing voice, look out for producers and songwriters seeking her out for guest vocals.

Django Django - Django Django

Gaining increasing exposure from the best kind of advertising; word-of-mouth (not to mention some very clever strategic press), Django Django's debut album is gathering a great fanbase in time for festival season and future tours.

Five for Friday, 3/2/12

Hola

This weeks 5 for Friday has just been inspired by hearing the sublime 808 State on Lauren Laverne's 6 Music show.

So we'll kick off with them and see where we go...

Then we go into the jazz infusioned 'Rose Rouge' by St Germain, I used to DJ occasionally in Glasgow and this always went down well.

As we're going with kind of blissed out, ambient, chilled tunes, this is a real classic from Groove Armada. A hands-in-the-air, hug-your-mates moment.

Ooh the memories of post night clubbing parties...

We'll pick up the pace and bring things forward with 2 Bears and 'Church'. Joe Goddard from Hot Chip at his best.

And how about a bit of Orbital to end - gorgeous bubbling synth sounds.

2012 - the year of Hot Chip?

2012 is shaping up to be an incredibly busy year for Hot Chip.


Following on from hit singles and critical acclaim for songs like 'Over and Over', 'A Boy From School', 'Ready For The Floor' and 'One Life Stand', the band will release their fifth album later this year.


In anticipation, the collective have already been confirmed as headliners for Camp Bestival and the Hollywood Bowl. It doesn't stop there.


In an incredible burst of productivity the band have several 'extra curricular' activities hapening, starting with the release today of 'Be Strong' by 2 Bears, a side project for Joe Goddard.

Joe had a great end to 2011 with the release of the single 'Gabriel' (featuring Valentina), with the track making many end of year 'Best Of's'.

'Be Strong' is released today via Southern Fried Records. It has been picking up outstanding reviews, expect one from me in the near future. I'm listening to a stream on The Guardian website just now and it sounds typically fresh, funky and euphoric, taking in a variety of influences.  I don't know who is guesting on the track 'Time In Mind' but it sounds like a great summer single, while other tracks are set directly for the heart of the dancefloor. Closing track 'Church' is on my stereo right now - it is an anthem. I am currently contemplating the bundle with tshirt, tea towel and ping pong bats; however I think I'll just go for the CD from Mono with my birthday vouchers.


“thumping album of proper house music” (Word)


“a really beautiful work of art about love and unity” (Annie Mac)


“one of the most anticipated albums of 2012″ (The Observer)

It doesn't stop there; New Build featuring Al Doyle and Felix Martin from Hot Chip are set to release their own album 'Yesterday Was Lived And Lost' at the start of March, taking it on tour including a date at Captain's Rest on the way. 


Check out the album and more details HERE

With a Camp Bestival headline slot already confirmed and a prestigious Hollywood Bowl show in the diary for September, Hot Chip clearly mean business. 


Lead singer Alexis Taylor had this to say to the NME


"We're really happy with how it's going. We're trying to build up a good batch of songs before we get too excited about finishing the album... We want to keep going and try out as many different things as possible, so we've got the best album we can make."


I'm only just checking out the 'extra curricular' activities (as Hot Chip refer to their side projects) and if the friends have kept their best work for Hot Chip then we could be in for astonishing tunes.