ALLY CRAIG

I thought I’d give video blogging a shot, but I had nothing to say and so resorted to playing some music. Click to watch youtube video.

Although actual news has been slim (I’m sitting on a couple of eggs until I can be sure they’ll hatch), I am proud and equally ashamed to present a side project in which I take a detour into the world of sampling and programming (or so-called “fake music”). I have been learning how to use the rather lovely Renoise, and the result so far is:

Bug Prentice

The X has sadly lost its long battle with the powers that be, and has been forced to declare bankrupcy. As one of the few venues in Oxford with wheelchair access, and the venue of my first ever gig in the city, it will be particularly sorely missed by me.

Oxford’s finest (well, only) music paper Nightshift has placed Get What You Pays For 16th in their Top 20 tracks of the year. Top of the list was Hummer by Foals, closely followed by Little Fish and Radiohead. (more…)

I have youtubed some footage of a gig at The X on Friday 16th November 2007. It features my good Dutch friends Jim Otten on guitar and Edgar Post on drums. Watch the shit out of it.

• Pilot Inspektor / Your Friends Lack Morals
• A Train then a Train then a Train

I recorded five new songs at One Cat Studio between August 28th and September 1st. I don’t like to blow my own trumpet (which is why I returned the one I bought on eBay) but it sounds stone cold awesome. I utilized the considerable greatness of Stephen Gilchrist and Ruth Goller on drums and bass respectively. Pete Wareham also made a face-melting appearance on tenor saxophone, and I even wasted the talents of Alice Grant and Rebecca Mosley by getting them to clap on Pilot Inspektor. Three of the new songs are now streaming on MySpace and Last.fm.

Readers of Oxford music magazine Nightshift will be pleased to learn that Junk and Stuff has been honoured with the prestigious title of Demo of the Month. Ally Craig has accepted the award with characteristic grace and humility, and is pleased to learn that he is not a “useless fucking arsehole” as was previously suspected. You are invited to bask in the gently humming glow of the review below. (more…)