hirez: More graf. Same place as the other one. (safety chicken)
[personal profile] hirez
I was challenged to find five songs with the word 'bike' or 'bicycle' in the title by [livejournal.com profile] amanda_pink.

It's been rather hard, given that it was followed in my head by the phrase 'that I like'. This immediately discounted 'Bicycle race' by Queen. The only nice thing I can say about that record is that it's been a very long time since I last heard it.

Meanwhile Kraftwerk, inventors of all that is good about modern electronic pop music and the people who define the rock/cycling interface, have yet to release anything with those words in the title. Even though there are two fine singles (one a remix, admittedly) and a cracking album about Le Tour. Annoying doesn't come into it. Boards of Canada have a stab with 'Happy cycling' (on 'Music has the right...') but though it clatters along cheerfully enough, the title's wrong and there's nothing to be done.

However. The first name that popped into my head was 'Bike-ride to the moon' by the entirely splendid Dukes of Stratosfear. You can't go wrong with rustic English psychedelia, and at the distance of some twenty years from the source, XTC in funny hats make an endearing and cosy racket.

I guess it's redundant to point out that it was probably a homage to Tomorrow's 'My white bicycle', which is a genius slab of phasing, backwards guitar and happy fun with the stereo image. What more could you ask from a song influenced by Dutch anarchists?

Hanging around a bit more in the West Country, we find Ted Milton and the rest of Blurt giving it some skronk with the rocking 'The fish needs a bike'. Blurt were recently in receipt of a bit of a critical shoeing not far from here, which isn't entirely surprising given the, um, somewhat exacting nature of the music. I think they're bloody marvellous, mind, and have done since viewing them at Pittville Pump Rooms ably (and drunkenly) supported by a worryingly young Attila the Stockbroker. (Which [livejournal.com profile] uk_jon may or may not remember. I wonder if I've still got my Mustaphas badge?)

'Bike' on the other hand, appears to be pre-ElectroSkronk Autechre. It's positively restrained, sounding a lot like it should have been on 'The Man-Machine'. I first came across them via the 'Artificial Intelligence' LP, where they managed to sound a lot like Black Dog/B13, rather than people feeding astronomical data into a confused sequencer.

And then there's Pink Floyd. I approach with trepidation, given there's a good chance that I'll have a terrible psychotic fugue as I flash back to a grim evening of being forced to watch The Wall while (un)suitably medicated and run amok with a large hammer...

... Actually, I think I rather like the song. Especially the second half. Pitch a canteen of cutlery down the stairs, record, play backwards. Groovy daddio! It reminds me of early Severed Heads, in a wrong-end-of-the-telescope time travel sort of a way.


Elsewhere, it appears that there intro-quiz-thing was a bit harder than I thought. Answers real soon now.

Date: 2006-08-11 08:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spride.livejournal.com
You do realize you have mentioned both Pink Floyd and a band containing a Yes member in the same post?

You are getting on, aren't you?

Date: 2006-08-11 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
Garn! Go on, gertcha!

(I'll be old when I cave in to Q Mag and R2)

Date: 2006-08-11 08:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spride.livejournal.com
s/Q/Mojo/ ?
Q (last time I looked, hundreds of years ago) seemed to be all about crawling up the execrable Oasis's collective fundament. Vile, but not specifically what you meant, I suspect.

Date: 2006-08-11 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
Oh, very probably. One or other of the monthlies had a splendidly long article about Kraftwerk a few years ago. That was the last time I recall reading one.

I ought to buy The Wire, though.

Date: 2006-08-14 09:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quercus.livejournal.com
I ought to buy The Wire, though.

(strokes jazz-bearded chin thoughtfully)

Date: 2006-08-11 08:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] solipsistnation.livejournal.com

Huh, it's not a very common word at all, it looks like.

"Bike Thief" by Freezepop is all I can find on the laptop (Meaning my Dukes CDs aren't on here!)

Date: 2006-08-11 08:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
While Googling, I chanced upon this: http://bicycleuniverse.info/stuff/music.html

It misses the point quite spectacularly, calling Syd's 'Bike' fairly uninspiring and 'Happy cycling' by BoC I couldn't find an MP3 or even lyrics, but it's purported to be electronica. Kraftwerk (Tour de France) are dismissed with An offering from the German synth/dance band. The lyrics are brief and uninspiring.

That's because you gormlessly quote the English translation you monomaniacs. The correct version to listen to over and over until it's ingrained in your head is the French one. Kraftwerk lyrics are entirely minimalist and that is why they're marvellous. No over-egged sixth form g*th poetry here.

Date: 2006-08-11 08:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jul1et.livejournal.com
i'm confused - saw the post and immediatly thought of Mungo Jerry for no apparent reason

o_O

Date: 2006-08-11 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
I refer modom to the URL directly above.

BLURT

Date: 2006-08-11 08:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarah-mum.livejournal.com
No really, they were physically painful, despite being possesed of an excellent drummer. Yet another reason you should have flippin' well come to Rhythm (oh, and I had a chat with Johnny Clarke on Saturday night).


Question: Gaz Mayal, who *was* he?

Re: BLURT

Date: 2006-08-11 09:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
Gaz Mayal(l)? Um, any relation to John of the Blues Breakers?

You spoke to JCC?
[FX: Fanboy]

Re: BLURT

Date: 2006-08-11 09:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarah-mum.livejournal.com
Zoot-suited DJ and sort of 'person JH-R and I might have seen at the town hall in //chelt'

Yes I did, Otway was much nicer.

Re: BLURT

Date: 2006-08-11 10:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
Ah, don't know then. I don't think I recall anyone from //chelty with a surname.

Date: 2006-08-11 10:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hazeii.livejournal.com
HAL 9000: Daisy, daisy...(ok, so it's a tandem).

I don't think that song is even mentioned here (http://bicycleuniverse.info/stuff/music.html).

Date: 2006-08-12 09:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fross.livejournal.com
Ae's Bike is off Incunabula, their early 90s, more warm electronica than spazzed out broken stuff (i do like your description, but Lustmord has done exactly that). i'm surprised you imply you don't like the track, especially the closeness indeed to Kraftwerk in the sound (I'd put it on TEE myself)

Date: 2006-08-12 10:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
If I compare somthing to Kraftwerk, it's a good bet that I care for it.

Lustmord: Has (s)he/they indeed? On which recording is that to be found?

Date: 2006-08-15 08:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fross.livejournal.com
http://awrc.com/review/a/trans_plutonian.html

kind of like ryoji ikeda's more introspective pieces, without the blips. it's damn hard to find, if you can't find it let me know and i'll hook you up with something.

Date: 2006-08-13 12:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] uk-jon.livejournal.com
Not read previous replies so these may already be covered but...
Bicycle Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle - Be Your Own Pet
Side Care Bicycle - Jab Mica Och El (from a compilation album made entirely of bicycle noises called Project: Bicycle)
Midnight Bicycle Mystery - Deerhoof

I was wondering what happened to my Mustaphas badge just the other day.

Date: 2006-08-13 01:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hirez.livejournal.com
[FX: Google. D/l Jab Mica Och El.]

Coo. That's rather good. Have I annoyed you about Akufen?

Date: 2006-08-13 08:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] uk-jon.livejournal.com
Yes... mentioned rather than annoyed. So I checked some out and played Little Hop of Horror on the radio show back in October (http://web.mac.com/jmiller22/iWeb/brierlyhill90210/Program%2021.html in case you doubted me)

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