ONE-FINGERED WONDER

Matt wants us to cover 'a certain Softcell track' for our upcoming gig at Bedsitland.   Having listened to the track, I can only surmise that this is because his chosen track can be easily played with one finger. I think if we are going to go down the rocky-road of cover versions, we should look to cover tracks that stretch us and stimulate us on a personal and artistic level.   Sarah x

POSTER

ISOLATION

I sometimes find working on my own quite un-inspring, my studio was previously quite accessible but following the addition to our household I now work in a semi-converted loft space. Therefore feedback on the progress of tracks as I'm working hardly ever happens. Sometimes it would be 'oh I don't like that sound' or 'that sounds weird' would often mean I would re-evaluate the track and often improve it.

I think the songs definitely reflect the mood of the environment and I actually quite like that, I think this album will have a darker feel which is something we both discussed and agreed upon at the start of writing.

Sarah generally trusts my judgement regarding the production and I have previously left her to write about subjects that are personal to her. There has been some reversal of roles recently as with one of the tracks I felt the vocals weren't working, I offered to write some lyrics as there was a subject I really wanted to get off my chest, I thought this would be the easier option rather than getting Sarah to write something different to an existing idea, not sure it went down that well though. I have never written a complete song so we'll see what happens.

Matt

FOR ME THE BEST ALBUM OF '08...SO FAR

The Presets - Apocalypso

I first of heard of these guys a while after seeing a video of 'The Girl & The Sea', I really liked that track and thought Damon Albarn was the vocalist, but he wasn't. The material I heard around that time seemed very disjointed so I didn't buy any albums.

This album is by a long way the best thing they have done.

Tracks like 'This Boy's In Love' , 'A New Sky', 'Yippiyo-Ay' & 'If I Know You' are really great songs so make it worth buying the complete album.

Parts of it reminds me of Underworld, The Knife, The Killers, LCD Soundsystem, Nitzer Ebb and even Blancmange especially the retro drum and synth sounds.

The vocals range between very melodic and chant like with perhaps even a tint of John Lydon in places.

You should have a listen here

OHHHHHH

...We do like to be beside the seaside! Just got back from a sunny, long weekend in Norfolk with my GORGEOUS family. Fish and chips on the seafront, fresh crab and ice-cream (not all at once).  Bliss.   Brilliant news about Retrofest 2008.  Can't wait - but now have the usual dilemma of what to wear.  Is it possible to buy electro-wellies?  Could spray some silver I guess.   Oh, and a very happy birthday to our' Matt. He doesn't look bad for 40!   ;-) x x

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RETROFEST '08

We have been invited to play at this years Retrofest in Scotland on August 31st. Last year Retrofest featured The Human League & ABC and this year the line-up is equally as exciting. Boy George, Howard Jones, Paul Young, Midge Ure, China Crisis, Kajagoogoo, Boney M, Blow Monkeys, The Christians, Kim Wilde, The Bangles, Peter Andre plus many more.

Obviously making a weekend of it so we get to enjoy the bands on the Saturday before our slot on the Sunday.

Click here to visit the Retrofest site.

AURAL & VISUAL EXCITEMENT

Had a very good night in London, meeting up with the EY crowd, discussing all things electro and topped off by meeting the legendary producer Gareth Jones just minutes before seeing Yazoo for the first time (and probably the last).

I gifted Gareth our album on iTunes last year and he sent a very nice email back, although no mention of listening to the album :-( However he did remember when we spoke yesterday evening. Gareth has been diagnosed with a minor (his words) cancer and is therefore taking time off. He is writing a very inspirational and candid blog that can be found here Needless to say I will be now regularly reading his journal and of course wishing him a speedy recovery.

More updates coming today and some exciting live news.

ADDITIONAL...

This is the EY gang with Gareth Jones. I really wasn't drunk although it looks like I'm doing a good impression.

THE BLUES

First day back and I have to say I'm not enjoying it. It's been great catching up on emails and the Podcast seems to have gone down really well.

I spent a blissful week on top of a mountain in southern Spain wishing I could relocate my studio there. My next holiday will be after the album is finished, so I better get cracking.

Looking forward to Yazoo on Wednesday :-)

Matt

NK:GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Breaking news! 

We are in talks with Leicester Sound about playing a one-off gig in Leicester City Centre this summer, in aid of Happy Health 2008.  This will be a Saturday day-time shindig - and there's even talk of an exclusive NK radio jingle to promote the event! 

Watch this space for further details.............I'll dust off my nurses outfit in the meantime ;-)

(Sarah) x

NKPC040608

OK, Just completed editing out first podcast.

General answering of questions and additional chit chat, plus a several tracks.

Track 1 - MINITHIN - Between Love & Hate
Track 2 - NORTHERN KIND - Original idea for Dirty Youth
Track 3 - NORTHERN KIND - Original idea for Into the blue
Track 4 - NORTHERN KIND - Snippet of Goodbye
Track 5 - NORTHERN KIND - Snippet of Where to from here

Hope you enjoy it.

Oh and the link is here

I'm off on holiday now for a week, over to Sarah...

Mattx

SOUNDS OF SUMMER

Ahhhh...a bit of sunshine at last! 

I'm haunted by memories of Sheffield last summer where I think it rained every day for about 3 months.  And that is no exaggeration.  I was walking home one afternoon, with Sea King helicopters zooming around overhead, it was like living on the set of The Day After Tomorrow!

So this burst of sunshine got me thinking about summer songs - and all the things I love about British summertime.

My definitive summer songs:

'Holiday' Madonna - 1983, on holiday somewhere in Cornwall with my family.  I have a feeling that it was on this holiday, that I sang in public for the first time, in some kind of talent competition

'Come into my Life' Joyce Simms, 1988, in Leicester it was all about snogging boys, smoking fags and staying at the funfair till after 9pm!

'Step On' The Happy Mondays, 1990 (what a decade!!)  this was the start of things to come and a tune that never fails to make me smile.  This was the summer of the house party - which for the record, was all Tara Simms' fault...(sorry about the Black Maria mum)

'Come Home' James - 1990, on holiday with Debbie in North Devon - freedom!

'Screamadelica' Primal Scream - 1994, this whole album reminds me of an awesome summer and an amazing beach party in Norfolk for my birthday, that was nearly big enough to be classed as a rave

'Killing Me Softly' The Fugees - 1996, happy happy times at DeMontfort University, devising theatre shows that the general public didn't have a hope-in-hell of understanding


I HEART Summer!!!

Sarah

IN THE BAG

Right so, our first Podcast has been recorded. We managed to waffle on for an hour and that's without the music so it's gonna take some editing. I will have it online for the weekend though and hopefully condense it down to maybe 30 minutes.

We answered questions from Jens in Germany, Robby in Brussels, Gary in Manchester, Michael in Sweden & Rob in Glasgow.

We will playing a pre NK track that myself and Sarah did when Sarah was in Minithin, the first versions of "Into the blue" & "Dirty Youth" plus a couple of snippets from "Where to from here" and "Goodbye" new tracks from our forthcoming album.

Matt

ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS

Thanks to everyone so far that has sent questions in for our podcast, we now have more than enough to be going on with so some of them might have to be in the next one.

Hopefully have it ready to post by the weekend.

Thanks, Matt