The Miserable Rich – The Cluny 2, Newcastle

Even with a sore throat, James de Malplaquet sings like Ella Fitzgerald. Hoarse and whispery in conversation between songs, The Miserable Rich singer’s voice never once falters while in full flight during this, the opening night of their current tour.

Despite the constant threat of vocal breakdown and the numbing cold of the venue, Cellist Will Calderbank and violinist Mike Siddell have to warm their hands against a radiator before taking to the stage, the band manage to give a run out to new single Somerhill and its b-side Bye, Bye Kitty, a cover of Iggy Pop’s Shades and a handful of old favourites from their 12 Ways To Count album including the sublime Boat Song.

What makes the Miserable Rich such an attractive proposition when playing live is that the strings aren’t there to simply augment their sound; they are the sound. Mostly, that’s a gorgeously lush sweeping sound, but Calderbank and Siddell aren’t afraid to ratchet up the sound. At times they are as close to a wall of sound as two instruments more at home in the orchestra pit can be.

Somerhill is available now through Humble Soul with an album to follow at the end of May.

Sore throat or no sore throat, James de Malplaquet has also croaked his way through the Suitcase Orchestra Q&A.

If I were to play just one of your songs to someone who hasn’t heard your music, which would it be and why?

That’s going to be pretty tricky as the track I’m thinking of, Oliver, is on the new album and thus net yet available. I think you can probably get a preview of it live on YouTube though.

I’m choosing this one because it encapsulates a lot of what the band is about now. It was written by the group as a whole, and we all had a hand in it. It’s in an unusual time signature, and has fairly strange subject matter – and yet it’s extremely catchy and immediate. It also has both the tender and the raw sides of our output.

You are being sent to the moon. You’re allowed to take 1 album. What is it?

It is You Forgot It In People by Broken Social Scene

What was the last album you bought?

Marissa Nadler – Bird On The Water, which I learned about on 6Music R.I.P. Fittingly sad.

Tell us an interesting fact.

All firefighters and rescue teams in Chile are unpaid volunteers.

Tell us about a band or singer we might not have heard of who should be featured on Suitcase Orchestra.

There’s this husband and wife/brother-sister duo from the states.

Wear a lot of red and white……..

Oh, alright then. We played with a band called Vadoinmessico in London. We like them.

What film would you be a character in?

Ok. Since we’re in fantasy land now, can we please please be the characters in Withnail and I?

Reckon there’d be stiff competition for the parts of Withnail and Danny.

Somewhat less for I and Uncle Monty.

Personally, I’d be happiest dressing up lots and playing all the bit parts.

Recommend a book.

Les Miserables, Victor Hugo.

But of course.

Which literary character would play you in the book of your life?

Wilkins Micawber.

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.”

What’s the worst record in your collection?

That would be one of Jim’s many Status Quo records.

Although I believe I have a copy of Love Is In The Air by a Spanish flamenco singer which really does need to be heard to be believed…….

What question should I always ask in a Q & A? And answer it please.

A lady at the student radio in Newcastle (hullo Laura!) asked us this question, so we’ll nick that.

Which band would YOU like to cover a song of YOURS, and which one?

Again, this is fantasy land, so let’s have the Pixies doing Pisshead please.

The Miserable Rich MySpace is here.

The Hidden Cameras release their new single Underage/Origin:Orphan on the 22nd March through Arts and Crafts, preceded by the re-release of their latest album Origin:Orphan on the 15th March. The band will be over from Canada for a series of UK dates which beginning in Brighton on March 17th at the Audio.

Full tour details are listed below.

In the meantime, Joel Gibb has kindly tackled the Suitcase Orchestra Q & A and you can kick back and watch the video for Underage here.

If I were to play just one of your songs to someone who hasn’t heard your music, which would it be and why?

Party shuffle! Let fate decide things. My songs are like my babies.

You are being sent to the moon. You’re allowed to take 1 album. What is it?

I wouldn’t take any album, what’s the point? You’re in space!!! I would be too distracted to listen to an album. But “Scott 4″ is good.

On the subject of being sent to the moon, what 3 things would definitely be in your suitcase?

Wouldn’t I have some sort of moon-pack instead of a suitcase? Toothbrush, long-johns and tooth paste.

Tell us about a band or singer we might not have heard of who should be featured on Suitcase Orchestra

Hmmmm, haven’t anything new in a while. I really do like the new Mocky record, have you heard it? It’s called “Saskamodie”…

What film would you be a character in?

To quote Sarah Palin, “Any of ‘em, all of ‘em”. My Left Foot would be a good start.

Recommend a book.

Mephisto – Klaus Mann

Which literary character would play you in the book of your life?

See above

What’s the worst record in your collection?

I couldn’t say really, I usually don’t have records I don’t like.

What question should I always ask in a Q & A?

How lazy.

And answer it please.

I’m even lazier.

The Hidden Cameras embark on a UK tour for the following dates:

Wed 17th March Brighton Audio

Thu 18th March London St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch

Fri 19th March Nottingham Bodega

Sat 20th March Glasgow Stereo

Sun 21st March Manchester Deaf Institute

Mon 22nd March Cardiff The Gate

Tue 23rd March Leeds Brudenell Club

Wed 24th March London Hoxton Bar and Kitchen

Visit the Hidden Cameras MySpace here.

New independent record label, One Bird Records, will be officially launched at Puregroove in London on February 24th.

After meeting at a gig they were both reviewing, founders Laura Scott and Natalie Shaw decided to form a new label aimed at putting some soul into buying downloads.

One Bird, which will be a digital singles label, allows fans to purchase the single with limited edition liner notes designed by up and coming artists. ‘We  want to bring a tangibility back to the ever-present digital download, and make the single precious once again,’ Laura and Natalie state.

The label also aim to nurture their bands by keeping management and PR in-house.

To celebrate the launch of the label, One Bird is throwing a party at Puregroove. Pop along for a chance to find out what One Bird is all about, listen to its founders spin some of their favourite records and check out a small exhibition of artists’ reinterpretations of their favourite album covers.

Visit One Bird Records here.

Owen Pallett is the man behind the strings on Arcade Fire’s albums, The Last Shadow Puppets and Suitcase Orchestra favourite Luxury Pond. He’s also just released the excellent Heartland album and has kindly completed the Suitcase Orchestra Q&A.

If I were to play just one of your songs to someone who hasn’t heard your music, which would it be and why?

Couldn’t say, really.  I always like to discover music on my own accord, so I’m hesitant to play my own shit for people.

You are being sent to the moon. You’re allowed to take 1 album. What is it?

Tomita’s album of Debussy pieces seems suitable.

What was the last album you bought?

I bought Vampire Weekend last weekend because I liked the album cover.

Tell us an interesting fact.

Anne Murray has a daughter named Dawn Langstroth.  If she and Dave Longstreth had a son, his name could be Dan Langstroth-Longstreth.

Tell us about a band or singer we might not have heard of who should be featured on Suitcase Orchestra.

Larkin Grimm is really pushing all my buttons lately.  She has a concert up on NYCTaper that is a must-listen.

What film would you be a character in?

Ennh, probably Richard E Grant in something.

Recommend a book.

Haven’t been reading anything heavy lately, mostly Kingsley Amis, it’s great on tour.

What’s the worst record in your collection?

I stopped grading records.

What question should I always ask in a Q & A? And answer it please.

You’re doing fine!

Owen Pallett’s myspace is here.

If you are one of the many people who have been admiring Jo Cameron’s beautiful Suitcase Orchestra logo, you can now cut a dash in a Suitcase Orchestra t-shirt. Or perhaps a tote bag or a mug are more your style.

Visit the Suitcase Orchestra Storechestra for more information.

Ignore the fact that one of the stand out tracks on this album is called Summerland and you have the very essence of a wintry album. Sparse yet pretty, clear and crisp, The Woodlands sparkle like the frostiest of January mornings.

Nothing is rushed, nothing is overblown – it’s all very simplistic stuff, but very beautiful with it. Essentially the strummed musings of married couple Hannah and Samuel Robertson, the songs are added their frosty shimmer by sporadically dropping in strings, piano, accordion and glockenspiel overlaid with Hannah’s vocals which are not so much whispered as sighed. This is an album which demands that you listen to it with strained ears.

‘Such light shines so bright through the winter’ Hannah sings on the album’s closing track, neatly summing up the album’s contribution to the Suitcase Orchestra playlist over the last few weeks.

They have also done the Suitcase Orchestra Q & A, below, in which they give the best answer that anyone has ever, or will ever, give to the question What is the worst record in your collection?

If I were to play just one of your songs to someone who hasn’t heard your music, which would it be and why?

Hannah:  If only one, then Summerland.  The song came from a deep and beautiful well I found within myself.  It was like meeting a truer version of myself.  It tells of a land that I had dreamed of and longed for and found inside me all at the same time.  Beautiful and magical and enchanting!  It is both figurative and literal.  Summerland is probably my favourite song on the album.  I feel like after writing this song, something was solidified in my mind and I began to believe in myself as a songwriter and what Samuel and I were creating together.  It was a swirly, euphoric moment, and the song has always reminded me of it ever since.

Samuel:  Summerland is a good representation of a lot of the elements that show up in our songs on the album.  It has an innocent and untainted quality, without being naïve to the threads of darkness that run concurrently through the experience.  It has a quality of otherness.  Both mysterious and familiar.   It is a poetic song with images and melodies that continue to echo in your head long after listening.

You are being sent to the moon. You’re allowed to take 1 album. What is it?

Wow.  So much pressure.  Not only making all the necessary preparations for space travel to the moon (do they even have in-flight snacks anymore?), but also the tremendous pressure of choosing just one album?  An album that not only defies exclusion, but gravity as well?  At least we can choose two between us, and share them with each other when we get there.  So together we choose:

Seabear – The Ghost That Carried Us Away

MGMT  –  Oracular Spectacular

What was the last album you bought?

Hannah:  Au Revoir Simone – Still Night, Still Light

Samuel:   Florence & The Machine – Lungs

Tell us an interesting fact.

If you mean an interesting fact in general:  More children, women and men are held in slavery right now than over the course of the entire trans-Atlantic slave trade (International Justice Mission).

If you mean an interesting fact about us:  We both speak Spanish.

If you mean an interesting fact about our music:  We have two songs (Until The Day Dims and Day To Day) featured in a newly released international feature film from Greenland called Nuummioq that makes its world premier at the Sundance Film Festival and then off to more of the international festival circuit.  We are excited.

Tell us about a band or singer we might not have heard of who should be featured on Suitcase Orchestra.

Folded Light

Catherine Feeny

Horse In The Sea

What film would you be a character in?

Hannah:  Chocolat

Samuel:   Hawaii, Oslo

Recommend a book.

Hannah: The Great Divorce – C.S. Lewis

Samuel: The History Of Love – Nicole Krauss

What’s the worst record in your collection?

Samuel:  In ninth grade my friend Ben Merris and I joined together as a doubles tennis team, mostly as a joke because neither of us had played tennis before.  Our record during the regular season was 0-9.  That’s zero wins and nine losses.  As in, we lost every single match.  At the end of the season, every team from every school in the city was allowed to participate in the city tournament.  The big dance.  Shockingly enough, we won our first match.  Shock upon shock, we won our next match.  Inexplicably, and to the utter astonishment of every soul in sight, we won the next as well.

A gradual buzz began to build around the tournament that some miscreant loser doubles team was slicing through the competition and steadily advancing.  We were those miscreants.  Tennis miscreants on fire.  Our miraculous ascent through the junior high pantheon of tennis elites simply could not be foiled.  Something just happened, some mistroke of fortune or stroke of misfortune, and we were hurled through the tournament brackets with our rackets blazing and our eyes gazing incredulously ahead at the little plastic tennis-man coated with a gold glaze that sat atop a faux-marble base with a little brass placard awaiting the engraving of the tournament winners’ names.  Our names.

We marched through five straight glorious matches to get to the championship, where we fought a close and embittered battle and seized a well-undeserved victory.  With upturned hands and brows, with murmurs and grumblings from astounded and unquestionably higher calibre opponents, and with a euphoric disbelief at the feat we had accomplished, Ben and I walked through a shower of applause that swelled from hesitation to elation as we claimed our trophy that decreed the worst and best record of our lives.

What question should I always ask in a Q & A? And answer it please.

What do you enjoy in life outside of music?

Hiking through Forest Park in the Portland hills.  Making our own kombucha tea.  We love watching foreign films at home, finding affordable happy hour food specials, laughing ridiculously with friends, visiting family, travelling to new places with new adventures, inventing recipes, brainstorming art ideas, eating olives, browsing second-hand stores, showering together at night, talking about Europe, make fun of each other’s quirks, hoping.

The Woodlands can be found here.

To celebrate the release of their third long player, Die Stadt Muzikanten, in their native Canada , Woodpigeon’s Mark Hamilton found a bunch of answers to go with the questions we sent him. Amazingly, they match up. Almost.

While you read this ingenious coupling of question and answer, have a listen to Empty-Hall Sing-Along from Woodpigeon’s new album.Empty-Hall Sing-Along

If I were to play just one of your songs to someone who hasn’t heard your music, which would it be and why?

Whenever I’m asked this question, I always think of the most recent song I’ve recorded or written. I think the most recent song one finishes is always the most accurate portrait of who you are musically at that exact moment. (And the song I’m thinking of is part of an EP project for later in 2010).

You are being sent to the moon. You’re allowed to take 1 album. What is it?

Most likely something timeless. There’s a piece by Brahms that wakes me up every morning that I don’t think I could live without. (More specifically, it’s the Concerto for violin, violincello and orchestra in A-minor).

What was the last album you bought?

John Jacob Niles’ ‘The Ballads of John Jacob Niles’.

Tell us an interesting fact.

It’s impossible to keep your eyes open when you sneeze. (Your eyes would fall out).

Tell us about a band or singer we might not have heard of who should be featured on Suitcase Orchestra.

A trio of wonderful friends: Laura Leif (aka The Secret Brothers), Ryan Doyle, and Kris Ellestad.

What film would you be a character in?

Sometimes I feel that my life is enough of a movie as it is. But since I get to choose, I’d probably select someone who lives a long happy life (and scores the hottest guy).

Recommend a book.

‘Life: A User’s Manual’ by Georges Perec.

What’s the worst record in your collection?

It’s long gone — I did a clear-away of that stuff about 8 months ago and haven’t looked back.

What question should I always ask in a Q & A? And answer it please.

Write your own questions! Otherwise, how about, “Would you prefer cash or cheque for your time?” Ha.

Die Stadt Muzikanten is released on January 12th on Boompa Records in Canada.

Way back in the mists of time, when Suitcase Orchestra first crawled, blinking in the light,  from the primordial swamps, chamber pop maestro Andrew Morgan recommended we check out Julie London. Well, we knew all about the delights of ‘Cry Me A River’ and sadly, Julie is no longer with us so we’ve made it our business to find a more than suitable replacement.

Described by someone at Radio 2 as a ‘real old school beauty’, Louise Hull does indeed have more than a hint of days gone by about her with her 1950’s film star looks and her rich, dark voice which recalls the aforementioned Miss London and a whole host of other female jazzers. She looks and sounds as if she should have a cigarette perched delicately in a cigarette holder coiling wisps of smoke around her face as she sings.

But, for all of the jazz imagery and vocals, her music has a more folky feel with picked guitar, some soft strings and a light dusting of xylophone. It’s the sort of thing Jools Holland might well have had on Later had he not lost his way.

Having started out in a four piece a cappella group and a folk duo, Louise started her solo career with an ambitious solo tour of America. Since then she has supported Martha Wainwright and Alessi’s Ark and recorded an album with Roxy Music producer John Anthony. She is currently working on an E.P. which should see daylight soon.

In the meantime, enjoy a slow waltz with someone special to this offering or check out Louise’s MySpace here.

Christopher-and-I -  click to listen

The second of our features on new bands who deserve to be heard sooner rather than later.

The Woodlands are married couple Hannah and Samuel Robertson and they share a hometown of Portland, Oregon with the similarly sublime Horse Feathers. Like Horse Feathers they make a fragile sounding folk-pop sound only with Hannah’s whispered vocals being even more delicate.

Earlier this year, they released their self-titled debut album which they recorded in what they call ‘a homemade studio fort of blankets and pillows’.

The album is a beautifully simplistic and intimate autumnal affair, a theme reflected in their video for Can We Stay, directed by James Wilson. Rather than me waffle on at length about how great they sound, you really ought to just click, stick it on full screen mode and listen.

Can We Stay from The Woodlands on Vimeo.

The album is available through iTunes and eMusic and The Woodlands Myspace site is here.

I’m not necessarily claiming that these records are groundbreaking or will go down as classics (well, actually, with the first two, that’s exactly what I’m saying) they are just the records which I have loved the most over the last ten years.

#1 The Department Of Eagles – In Ear Park. A Forever Changes for our time – Largely overlooked since its release in 2008, one day this will be recognised as the classic it undoubtedly is. A spellbinding mix of lo-fi folk and a huge overpowering swell of orchestrated sound which does funny things to me.

#2 Chad VanGaalan – Soft Airplane. Chad VanGaalen pushes eclecticism to its limits and yet still manages to produce an album which flows and has an overall feel to it. Banjo folk sits alongside indie rock sits alongside electronic beats. VanGaalen’s vocals are reminiscent of Neil Young while his lyrics have a surreal and often macabre twist to them. More than anything else, this is a damn exciting record to listen to.

#3 Midlake – The Trials Of Van Occupanther. Rumoured to be written about an antiquated computer game and possessing one of the silliest sleeves of all time, Midlake manage to invoke the spirit of the 1970s and the 1870s simultaneously. Focussing on the twin themes of isolation and the need for human contact, this is an album to obsess about. And believe me, I have.

#4 Dean & Britta – Back Numbers. I spent the entire duration of Dean Wareham’s time in Luna wishing he’ d reform Galaxie 500. Galaxie 500 were the best band I ever saw live and I was desperate to see them again. On hearing Dean & Britta’s debut L’Aventura I started to waver. Back Numbers made me change my mind.  Critics dismiss this as the couple sleepwalking through their songs – that suits me fine.

#5 Jim Noir – Tower of Love. A folk-pop hip-hop song, a Henry Mancini-esque instrumental, a classic slice of late eighties Manchester. This is a joyous pop album with a sense of humour that never strays into silliness. Jim Noir took all of the best records of the 1960s, melted them down and reformed the vat of molten vinyl into this.

#6 Woodpigeon – Treasury Library Canada. Initially this wasn’t going to be a proper album but you can’t keep a good thing down. The songs on this, Woodpigeon’s second album, show a greater self-confidence than debut Songbook but there’s nothing groundbreaking on here, it’s just a collection of heartfelt songs which act as a kind of comfort blanket in much the same way that Nick Drake does.

#7 Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast. I only caught up with this about a year after it had been released and remember finding it hard to believe that no one had insisted I listen to it. It’s another eclectic album that has an overall feel to it. In many ways it ushered in the folky chamber-pop which I’ve spent much of the rest of the decade listening to. Badly Drawn Boy is the great uncle of the Leisure Society.

#8 The Hidden Cameras – Mississauga Goddam. Joel Gibb has the perfect voice for pop music and this is a flawless album. It just soars. Admittedly, The Smell of Our Own is probably just as good but this is what I heard first so it has the edge. I would congratulate Gibb on expressing his sexuality in his songs so openly too, only he’s probably think I was a patronising prick!

#9 Deerhunter – Microcastle. Like the Department of Eagles album, this record does funny things to me. I find it a bit overwhelming and for reasons I find it hard to put my finger on. All I can do is turn it up really loud and lose myself in it. This is the album that the shoegaze movement of the early 1990s failed to deliver. It’s got all of the fuzzy wooziness of Slowdive but with an underlying intensity that sets it apart from anything else around at the moment.

#10 Arcade Fire – Funeral. The fourth set of Canadians in this top 10 – for such a tiny country they certainly produce their share of great music. It took me a long time to love this album (I kept hearing snatches of Ian McCulloch in the vocals) but it was well worth the wait. One of the things I love most about this album is that while it’s overall very loud, I hear echoes of it in so many quiet records.