Below is what I sent to the BBC regarding the foreclosure of BBC 6 Music. If you feel strongly about it as I do please email srconsultation@bbc.co.uk or find and write a letter to your MP.
Dear BBC,
I am writing to urge that you overturn your decision to close BBC 6 Music. I find it bizarre, that an internationally respected news corporation priding itself on balance, variety and diversity would choose to dispose of one of the few national outlets for independent music.
I am afraid that is a decision that confirms my suspicions: the BBC have become a faceless conglomerate, more interested in sustaining itself than the needs and wants of its listeners. As a regular listener of BBC 6 Music, I was glad to have be able to choose between what I wanted to listen to. When I got up in the morning, I didn't have to stomach the asinine, often callous 'humour' of celebrity fat man Chris Moyles . Nor did I have to be force-fed the record label playlists filled with the vacuous RnB No. 1s of next month. Instead I could listen to a DJ who played the songs they wanted to, a simple enough freedom.
That was then. But now this decision signals to me, a person with strong and lifelong interest in independent music, that my opinions -and the opinions of many of my peers- do not matter to you. It saddens me to think that because schemes such as Raw Talent, BBC Blast and BBC Introducing have provided pivotal support for young musicians starting their careers, and also for budding music journalists such as myself.
The response from the BBC has been quick to marginalize the listeners of 6 Music. I do not feel in the minority because I want quality control and an alternative choice. I believe that there are many people who feel the same, and you have just alienated them. Well done. I could go on, but I think I'll leave it there. Please re-think your decision and reinstate the station. If you're really looking to shave a few quid off of the budget I may I suggest a few tips:
1.Don't spend 200 grand a year on champagne (I saw that report... naughty)
2. Get rid of George Lamb - he's still an annoying tw*t.
Regards,
N.Kaye
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Butlinz
Scott Crosby is a graphic designer/all-round Charismatic Englishman who hails from Leeds. At my behest he commissioned me a Butlins Campaign Poster:
This was based on photo album I discovered on the internet of a Classy Wakefield Lady's holiday to Butlins (or, as she called it 'Butlinz'). Here's the link to the album in question, but heed this warning: you may feel like washing out your eyes afterwards. YIKES!
Anyway, it got me thinking about my own experience with the place. I never had any childhood holidays there, but I had the pleasure of visiting the Minehead site for ATP back in December. Minehead is a 8 hour coach journey away from Leeds, in case you weren't aware, but with a festival line-up including My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, a couple of friends and I thought it was too good to pass up.
As we travelled through the beautiful Devon countryside - okay, I admit it, I got my hopes up. Minehead is perched on the coast next to Exmoor National Park and the hills are dotted with pony trekking centres and thatched cottages - it's the definition of idyll. Then we got there.
I wasn't kidding myself that it would be something dazzling, but I thought like aging seaside towns such as Scarborough, Blackpool and Bournemouth there would be redemption in it somewhere - a soul of some sorts. But even someone as nostalgia prone as myself couldn't get misty eyed about the rows of leaky, asbestos-riddled cabins. The years have not been kind to these tiny chalets, and the now-redundant cheer of names like 'Porpoise Avenue' and 'Dolphin Way' only made the place further resemble the set of 'Psycho.'
Adding to this creeping malaise is the abandoned feel of the off-season. Drizzle on an empty playground, a vicious looking seagull eyeing up your chips.
Anyone who watched Scooby Doo will attest the creepiness of closed fairground rides. And somehow, their attempts to modernise it seem to make it more grotesque, like a decrepid old woman with the breasts of a 25 year old. You can pimp it up as much as you like, but there's not much soul in corrugated iron.
I forgot that the people who holidayed here most were the Post War generation. People who had been rationed to the point of boiling potato peel, in huge economic crisis, they were glad simply to be alive after D-Day. Even a shit heap would look alright next to Auschwitz.
So following up the ornate baroque of the Victorians, and the dazzling modernism of the 20s, the WW2ers legacy of cardboard sheds never really stood a chance. Shame.
This was based on photo album I discovered on the internet of a Classy Wakefield Lady's holiday to Butlins (or, as she called it 'Butlinz'). Here's the link to the album in question, but heed this warning: you may feel like washing out your eyes afterwards. YIKES!
Anyway, it got me thinking about my own experience with the place. I never had any childhood holidays there, but I had the pleasure of visiting the Minehead site for ATP back in December. Minehead is a 8 hour coach journey away from Leeds, in case you weren't aware, but with a festival line-up including My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, a couple of friends and I thought it was too good to pass up.
As we travelled through the beautiful Devon countryside - okay, I admit it, I got my hopes up. Minehead is perched on the coast next to Exmoor National Park and the hills are dotted with pony trekking centres and thatched cottages - it's the definition of idyll. Then we got there.
I wasn't kidding myself that it would be something dazzling, but I thought like aging seaside towns such as Scarborough, Blackpool and Bournemouth there would be redemption in it somewhere - a soul of some sorts. But even someone as nostalgia prone as myself couldn't get misty eyed about the rows of leaky, asbestos-riddled cabins. The years have not been kind to these tiny chalets, and the now-redundant cheer of names like 'Porpoise Avenue' and 'Dolphin Way' only made the place further resemble the set of 'Psycho.'
Adding to this creeping malaise is the abandoned feel of the off-season. Drizzle on an empty playground, a vicious looking seagull eyeing up your chips.
Anyone who watched Scooby Doo will attest the creepiness of closed fairground rides. And somehow, their attempts to modernise it seem to make it more grotesque, like a decrepid old woman with the breasts of a 25 year old. You can pimp it up as much as you like, but there's not much soul in corrugated iron.
I forgot that the people who holidayed here most were the Post War generation. People who had been rationed to the point of boiling potato peel, in huge economic crisis, they were glad simply to be alive after D-Day. Even a shit heap would look alright next to Auschwitz.
So following up the ornate baroque of the Victorians, and the dazzling modernism of the 20s, the WW2ers legacy of cardboard sheds never really stood a chance. Shame.
Friday, 26 February 2010
#12
Hi All, below is the Sunshine Underground review, which can be found on the BBC Leeds website here.
The Sunshine Underground – Leeds Academy, 19th February
The Sunshine Underground have not exactly received a fair hearing from the British music press in their career so far: carelessly lumped in with the defunct ‘new rave’ only to be jettisoned with rest of it when it was deemed to be a Trojan (neon?) horse. But whilst the likes of The Klaxons had their Mercury Prize notoriety to cushion the blow, The Sunnies, who in fact have a much straighter up rock appeal than their sometime associates, found themselves stuck in the vacuum. Four years without a second release hasn’t helped. But anyone in doubt of their dedicated support should have showed up tonight to witness the fervent homecoming for Leeds’ favourite adopted sons.
The Academy is already filling up by the time Club Smith take to the stage early doors. Formerly another rave/discopop casualty, you may know Club Smith as The Hair, in which case you might remember ‘Hooker’ or the belting chorus to ‘Disco/Retro.’ My memories of that song are fond enough, but the novelty of the old songs never really had staying power. But what a difference a couple of years make: With the new name comes a pared-down collection of new, more mature songs and their throwaway aspect has been, well, thrown away. Tonight they debut songs from new release ‘The Loss EP,’ the title of which suggests that their music has been weathered by a little life experience. The saddened tones and sharp timing of songs like ‘Lament’ and ‘Courtyard’ pitch them alongside the likes of White Lies, and the performance is worthy of the appreciation it garners by the end.
With their dance influenced sound and Leeds fan base, Club Smith would have been an ideal choice for the main support slot this evening. But the tour support is in fact the rather baffling choice of Cosmic Jarvis, whose brand of Pogues-flavoured drudgery floats like as a lead balloon. Having said that it’s packed to the rafters by the time they leave the stage, but the general air is one of anticipation.
The excitement spills over (quite literally – pints are flying everywhere) by the time The Sunnies take the stage. The rapturous applause never lets up all night, and they show their appreciation in return by delivering a razor sharp, tight set. In reality it’s still the ‘Borders’ and ‘Put You in Your Place’s of their repertoire that cause the most excitement, where the crowd slams against the barrier, holdin their arms to the ceiling and sing along. But whilst not all the new material flies perfectly, there are a couple of stand out new additions, notably the title track from ‘Nobody’s Coming to Save You’ which takes the band to new levels of histrionics. After a set that seems shorter than it probably is, they bow out to a sea of jubilant (and very sweaty) faces.
The Academy goes dark but the crowd remain, chanting ‘Leeds!’ as if it was Elland Road on a Saturday afternoon, only to be rewarded when they return to the stage and finish with a raucous, beat-driven version of ‘Put You In Your Place.’ Scenes and fads may erode away in time, but it’s clear after tonight that writing The Sunshine Underground would be a foolish thing indeed.
The Sunshine Underground – Leeds Academy, 19th February
The Sunshine Underground have not exactly received a fair hearing from the British music press in their career so far: carelessly lumped in with the defunct ‘new rave’ only to be jettisoned with rest of it when it was deemed to be a Trojan (neon?) horse. But whilst the likes of The Klaxons had their Mercury Prize notoriety to cushion the blow, The Sunnies, who in fact have a much straighter up rock appeal than their sometime associates, found themselves stuck in the vacuum. Four years without a second release hasn’t helped. But anyone in doubt of their dedicated support should have showed up tonight to witness the fervent homecoming for Leeds’ favourite adopted sons.
The Academy is already filling up by the time Club Smith take to the stage early doors. Formerly another rave/discopop casualty, you may know Club Smith as The Hair, in which case you might remember ‘Hooker’ or the belting chorus to ‘Disco/Retro.’ My memories of that song are fond enough, but the novelty of the old songs never really had staying power. But what a difference a couple of years make: With the new name comes a pared-down collection of new, more mature songs and their throwaway aspect has been, well, thrown away. Tonight they debut songs from new release ‘The Loss EP,’ the title of which suggests that their music has been weathered by a little life experience. The saddened tones and sharp timing of songs like ‘Lament’ and ‘Courtyard’ pitch them alongside the likes of White Lies, and the performance is worthy of the appreciation it garners by the end.
With their dance influenced sound and Leeds fan base, Club Smith would have been an ideal choice for the main support slot this evening. But the tour support is in fact the rather baffling choice of Cosmic Jarvis, whose brand of Pogues-flavoured drudgery floats like as a lead balloon. Having said that it’s packed to the rafters by the time they leave the stage, but the general air is one of anticipation.
The excitement spills over (quite literally – pints are flying everywhere) by the time The Sunnies take the stage. The rapturous applause never lets up all night, and they show their appreciation in return by delivering a razor sharp, tight set. In reality it’s still the ‘Borders’ and ‘Put You in Your Place’s of their repertoire that cause the most excitement, where the crowd slams against the barrier, holdin their arms to the ceiling and sing along. But whilst not all the new material flies perfectly, there are a couple of stand out new additions, notably the title track from ‘Nobody’s Coming to Save You’ which takes the band to new levels of histrionics. After a set that seems shorter than it probably is, they bow out to a sea of jubilant (and very sweaty) faces.
The Academy goes dark but the crowd remain, chanting ‘Leeds!’ as if it was Elland Road on a Saturday afternoon, only to be rewarded when they return to the stage and finish with a raucous, beat-driven version of ‘Put You In Your Place.’ Scenes and fads may erode away in time, but it’s clear after tonight that writing The Sunshine Underground would be a foolish thing indeed.
Monday, 22 February 2010
#11
A couple of things to keep your cockles warm for now:
Interview with Adam Nodwell for BBC Leeds here.
Efterklang's new arrival Magic Chairs here. Lovely, wintry joy.
I'm pleased to report that I'll be getting involved with Counterfeit Magazine in the next few months: Borne out of the ashes of the Sandman (RIP), Counterfeit Mag (www.counterfeitmag.co.uk) is a creative melting pot, much like the former but has actually made it onto the internet. Surely a recipe for success! More details to follow, along with reviews, later this week. x
Interview with Adam Nodwell for BBC Leeds here.
Efterklang's new arrival Magic Chairs here. Lovely, wintry joy.
I'm pleased to report that I'll be getting involved with Counterfeit Magazine in the next few months: Borne out of the ashes of the Sandman (RIP), Counterfeit Mag (www.counterfeitmag.co.uk) is a creative melting pot, much like the former but has actually made it onto the internet. Surely a recipe for success! More details to follow, along with reviews, later this week. x
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
#10
What a drudging month January is. Grey weather, holidays over and done with, dark wet evenings. Thankfully the gloom has been lightened somewhat round these parts by a few great releases that got sent my way in the New Year: the ever magical Animal Collective have returned with an EP and also the new Kurt Vile record, the reviews of which you can find here and here.
On top of this, straight off the press today here's a link to my interview with Spectrals (aka Louis Jones) for the BBC West Yorkshire. It was great to hear his thoughts, he seems a really intelligent nice lad with some impressive music to boot. I'm imagining 2010 will be his year.
So, coming up there should be something a-brewing for the BBC with Adam Nodwell, head honcho of Burnt Toast, British Wildlife Records (www.britishwildliferecords.com) and general finger/pie man in Leeds. His podcasts (nodcasts if you will) really are something else, I tremble at the thought of facing him in any music quiz.
There's plenty of information there for everyone to digest so I'll sign off. Keep busy and hopefully spring will get here quicker! TTFN.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
# 9
Season's greetings to all... fah lah lah lah lah, la la la la! Hope your goose is getting fat. I have forced myself to get an entry out before Christmas and New Year just because I'm hideously slow to update this. Plus I actually have a few interesting things lined up for 2010 and I wanted to relay them:
1.You can see my Kitsune Compilation review by clicking on this link and my Miike Snow Album here. Coming up with Contact Music I have out: Animal Collective's Fall Be Kind EP (hurray!), Lawrence Arabia and Kurt Vile's Childish Prodigy amongst a few others, will post links to everything next time.
2.The rather exciting news I can now confirm is that I will be featuring Spectrals for BBC Leeds in the New Year. Leeds-based Shoegaze/Pop, getting some well-deserved attention of late, check out his stuff at www.myspace.com/spectralspectral
Time for me to go, wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and I'll see you in the New Year. x
1.You can see my Kitsune Compilation review by clicking on this link and my Miike Snow Album here. Coming up with Contact Music I have out: Animal Collective's Fall Be Kind EP (hurray!), Lawrence Arabia and Kurt Vile's Childish Prodigy amongst a few others, will post links to everything next time.
2.The rather exciting news I can now confirm is that I will be featuring Spectrals for BBC Leeds in the New Year. Leeds-based Shoegaze/Pop, getting some well-deserved attention of late, check out his stuff at www.myspace.com/spectralspectral
Time for me to go, wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and I'll see you in the New Year. x
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
#8
Well I'm nearly back to full fitness after an unfortunate series of events. Tip 1: if you're falling down some steps, don't try to save your drink. Especially in the Brudenell, a two pound pint is not worth a fractured arm.
Tip 2: why not put safety first and test if you've made a full recovery like this?
(Photograph by Bart Pettman)
This is was Brainwashed festival, which will be my next article with the BBC. Contrary to my facial expression, (I think) I was having a good time. The man flying towards me is James Brown from Pulled Apart By Horses, which probably goes some way to explaining the look of terror.
So, to a large amount of business. Recent(ish) features which I have omitted to speak about (lazy or incompetent? probably both).
Simian Mobile Disco
Blacklisters/These Monsters Live for BBC Leeds
Castrovalva Interview/Feature for BBC as well...
More Recent include Dance to the Radio EP Vol 3. and Dizzee Rascal for Contactmusic.com
Popping up soon will be the aformentioned Brainwashed feature, the Cold Cave album - which is pretty amazing- and Miike Snow. Oh, and the new Kitsune Compilation along with a couple of other things that I will talk about later. Right now it's time for less chat and more actual work.
Mind how you go, and even if you're having a shit day - remember it could be worse. You could be stuck on an ice floe with a hungry bear for three days. Pretty resilient for a 15 year-old if you ask me!
Tip 2: why not put safety first and test if you've made a full recovery like this?
(Photograph by Bart Pettman)
This is was Brainwashed festival, which will be my next article with the BBC. Contrary to my facial expression, (I think) I was having a good time. The man flying towards me is James Brown from Pulled Apart By Horses, which probably goes some way to explaining the look of terror.
So, to a large amount of business. Recent(ish) features which I have omitted to speak about (lazy or incompetent? probably both).
Simian Mobile Disco
Blacklisters/These Monsters Live for BBC Leeds
Castrovalva Interview/Feature for BBC as well...
More Recent include Dance to the Radio EP Vol 3. and Dizzee Rascal for Contactmusic.com
Popping up soon will be the aformentioned Brainwashed feature, the Cold Cave album - which is pretty amazing- and Miike Snow. Oh, and the new Kitsune Compilation along with a couple of other things that I will talk about later. Right now it's time for less chat and more actual work.
Mind how you go, and even if you're having a shit day - remember it could be worse. You could be stuck on an ice floe with a hungry bear for three days. Pretty resilient for a 15 year-old if you ask me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
