An extinct 'water pig' with 'tactile lips' has been named after Mick Jagger.
The 19-million-year-old anthracotheres - a species which has been likened to a kind of 'long-legged pig' - was named in honour of The Rolling Stones frontman because of its "tactile lips". Recently discovered in Egypt thanks to the finding of pieces of fossilised jaw, it has been named Jaggermeryx naida, which means 'Jagger's water nymph'.
About ten years ago, I had a series of conversations with some people preparing a new edition of Harry Smith’s Anthology Of American Music. Their aim, it seemed, was to take the 84 tracks originally compiled from Smith’s collection of 78s, and subject them to a vigorous digital clean-up. How much better would these songs sound, was their reasoning, if all the grit and static was removed, leaving the performances unsullied and sharp?
A new library has opened in London this week stocked only with vinyl.
The Vinyl Library, set up by two London based DJs Sophie Austin and Elly Rendall, is run by volunteers and will operate on a not-for-profit basis. Its stock is comprised of vinyl records donated by the public, with donations already having been made from as far away as New Orleans.
A fairly eclectic selection here this week, including some great proto-Takoma guitarists from the 1920s, chamber music reimaginings of the Kompakt back catalogue, that lost Romanian kosmische record you’ve always been looking for, and Prince making a stoner jam out of “Let’s Go Crazy” (which you can hear below, along with a bunch of interesting other stuff).
Rather a long time after the event, I thought it worthwhile posting my live review of Kraftwerk at the Tate Modern (it was published in Uncut's print edition a couple of weeks ago). It was Trans Europe Express night, by the way...
Suede played an intimate show at Camden's 200-capacity Barfly venue last night (March 4) to raise money for War Child.
The Britpop quintet, who reunited in 2010 following a seven-year hiatus, played a 90-minute set for XFM showcasing a number of hits as well as debuting cuts from forthcoming sixth album, 'Bloodsports'.
