Nina Nastasia - Dogs (2000)

New York based singer/songwriter, Nina Nastasia has a unique story.  She began writing songs in 1993, and by 2000, released her debut album, Dogs.  Only 1,500 copies were initially pressed, and she put the album packaging together by herself, in her apartment.  It wasn’t long before she sold the 1,500 copies, and with a little luck, the right person heard her music - John Peel.  


Veteran BBC DJ John Peel got hold of a copy of 'Dogs' and called it "astonishing" and in Mojo said: "[Nina's] songs are very direct without being posy or too clever. There's an attractive air of melancholy without self-pity." He gave the then-unavailable record constant plays on his Radio 1 show, helping to garner an international demand for 'Dogs'. 


Three of the best tracks from 'Dogs' should give you an idea of her amazing style


Stormy Weather


Oblivion


Too Much In Between




Nina Nastasia has just released a new album - 'Outlander'. Listen on MySpace

Grizzly Bear - Yellow House (2006)

This alternative indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York are currently spinning their psychedelic-folk symphonies in the UK. Glastonbury today, Hyde Park tomorrow.


Let's hope they play some of their older classics. Yellow House is four years old now but songs like 'Knife' and 'Colorado' still sound like hazy summer-day anthems. For the hippy in all of us.


This is 'Knife'. 


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Sonar 2010

Happenstance Radio will be following Roxy Music, Fuck Buttons and the Chemical Brothers. 

The Chemical Brothers - Further (2010)

Chemical Brothers best album for over 10 years. Ed and Tom have moved with the times and come out with vibes-oriented electronic music aka Four Tet (without the over-cleverness) and the mood rock of Ariel Pink. But the beats are also there so we never forget who we are listening to. Three tracks I like:

Dissolve


Another World


Horsepower


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Roxy Music - Avalon (1982)

Playing at Sonar on Saturday, their first gig in Spain for 30 years. Should be good for the chillout room. Pre-internet synth pop.



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Klaus Schulze - Mindphaser (1976)

From Klaus Schulze - Moondawn (1976). Just under 30 minutes of mindblowing psychedelic electronica. Makes you feel like a god just listening to it - imagine what it would have been to make this.



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Can - Halleluwah (1971)

From Can - Tago Mago (1971). Predates Happy Mondays song of the same name (yes it was a cover version!) by 20 years, and LCD Soundsystem's electronic rock-disco sound by over 30 years. This is the standout track from one of the best albums of all time.



Read about LCD Soundsystem's other influences. 

William Onyeabor - Atomic Bomb (1978)

This legendary Afro funk album was way ahead of its time and still sounds fresh and raw. Nowadays William Onyeabor resides in Enugu, Nigeria, where he has been crowned High Chief. He now runs his own flour mill as well as working on government contracts. This album is worthy of a king - and extremely rare. Here is the track that everybody talks about - Better Change Your Mind, from his debut album - Atomic Bomb. 




Listen to rare and classic Afrobeat on www.happenstanceradio.com

Mental Overdrive - Diskodans (2004)

From Mental Overdrive - 083 (2004). A fantastic record from the early days of the Norwegian Smalltown Supersound imprint. Clearly influenced by 80s Mantronix electro but with a Kraftwerk sense of humour.



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Caribou - Sandy (2007)

From Caribou - Andorra (2007). I do like the new album Swim (2010), but I miss the psychedelic style that Dan Snaith was into on his previous two albums. With the falsetto anthemic vocal, fuzzy base, big drums and folk instruments, Sandy is a great modern update of the Beach Boys 60s sound. 



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Bob James - Nautilus (1974)

From the Bob James album, One (1974). Killer jazz funk fusion from the second coolest white man of the 1970s, Bob James. Sampled by Run-DMC in "Beats To The Rhyme" (RIP Jam Master Jay). Also sampled by Eric B & Rakim, Public Enemy, Naughty By Nature and too many others to name. 


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Clutchy Hopkins - 3:02

From the original mystery Clutchy Hopkins album , The Life Of Clutchy Hopkins (2005) - which was No.6 in happenstanceradio Top 10 albums of the millenium. This track oozes funk and makes me feel like the pimp daddy king wherever I am :)



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Madvillain - Great Day (Four Tet Remix)

In 2005, Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) was in love with what still might be the greatest hip hop album of all time - the collaboration between Madlib and MF Doom that was Madvillain. Stones Throw commissioned Hebden to remix Madvillainy (2005) and it turned out a work of even greater genius. The stand out track is this harp-drenched remix of Great Day.



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Festival Guide - Summer 2010 - by bands - A-C

Andreya Triana - Festival: GLASTONBURY, Dates: 23rd-27th June 2010, Place: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset

2 Kings - Festival: GLASTONBURY, Dates: 23rd-27th June 2010, Place: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset

2 Many DJs - Festival: GLOBAL GATHERING, Dates: 30th-31st July 2010, Place: Stratford-upon-Avon
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Festival: SONAR, Dates: 17th-19th June 2010, Place: Barcelona, Spain
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Festival: HEINEKEN OPEN'ER FESTIVAL, Dates: 1st-4th July 2010, Place: Gdynia, Poland
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Festival: WIRELESS, Dates: 2nd-4th July 2010, Place: Hyde Park, London

2020 Soundsystem - Festival: GARDEN, Dates: 2nd-11th July 2010, Place: Petrcane, Croatia

6ixtoys - Festival: GLASTONBURY, Dates: 23rd-27th June 2010, Place: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
. . .
Above & Beyond - Festival: GLOBAL GATHERING, Dates: 30th-31st July 2010, Place: Stratford-upon-Avon

AC/DC - Festival: DOWNLOAD, Dates: 11th-13th June 2010, Place: Donington Park, Derby

Adam Regan - Festival: GLASTONBURY, Dates: 23rd-27th June 2010, Place: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
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Festival: GARDEN, Dates: 2nd-11th July 2010, Place: Petrcane, Croatia
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Get carried away by music and the Adriatic waves!

Where else can you be woken up by gentle sun rays, enjoy great music round-the-clock, meet cool people, chill out on a pine tree covered peninsula and go on a boat party at the end of the day? All in the same place. This is a new paradise in the very heart of Europe – Croatia, which now hosts one of the biggest festivals – the GARDEN festival in the village of Petrcane.

Live bands and DJs from all aspects of dance music culture come to play and party, and there are not many festivals where revelers can swim in the glistening Adriatic, relax beneath the pines and dance under a canopy of stars. The 3 main areas are: The terrace hosting the main live stage, Tiki Bar, also with its own dance floor terrace overlooking the sea and then there is Barbarella’s Discotheque for the after-parties.

As a special treat the instantly legendary Argonaughty Boat Parties set sail twice daily for more fun and frolics on the open sea. Everyone gets a chance to enjoy the breathtaking surroundings and, without the usual hordes, it’s easy to find old friends and to make new ones.

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