(I) RELEASE THE BATS (Flying Nun)

I am very proud, honoured and just a little humbled to announce yesboyicecream's release of the new (and utterly brilliant) album by New Zealand's finest independent popular beat combo, The Bats...The Guilty Office will be available in all self-respecting record shops around our most European of continents from June 1st...do support your local shops.

If you simply cannot wait that long, you can pick up a copy directly from the band on their European Tour, who will be happy to sell it to you with good grace, charm and a secret handshake for a reasonable price. Tour dates are available from the yesboyicecream site.

Just to whet your appetite, here is some random footage not related to The Bats put together to not really accompany the rather brilliant closing song, The Orchard, on their rather brilliant new album, The Guilty Office.



Like Water in Your Hands (via SoundCloud)
A beautiful, beautiful track from the *new* Bats album - The Guilty Office, available from www.yesboyicecream.com -"the Bats nail the symphonic/lo-fi use melodic mix succinctly, showing the Guilty Office to be this year's alternative pop album" (Artrocker).

Like Water In Your Hands - The Bats by yesboyicecream

Pick up a copy of the album for the recession-proof sum of €10 (including postage & packaging) directly from the yesboyicecream shop.

Finally, here's a really cool article about Flying Nun from the Guardian....

I don't care if I lose my mind...I'm already cursed- La Det Swinge

I don't care what they say, Alexander's no Hanne Krogh (1971). Although he was better dressed than either Bobbysock.

Eurovision winner in 1964.

Disappointingly creepy lyrics.




Non ho l'età
Non ho l'età per amarti
Non ho l'età per uscire sola con te

E non avrei
Non avrei
Nulla da dirti
Perché, tu sai
Molte più cose di me

Lascia che io viva
Un amore romantico
Nell' attesa
Che venga quel giorno
Ma ora no

Non ho l'età
Non ho l'età per amarti
Non ho l'età per uscire sola con te

Se tu vorrai
Se tu vorrai
Aspettarmi
Quel giorno avrai
Tutto il mio amore per te

Lascia che io viva
Un amore romantico
Nell' attesa
Che venga quel giorno
Ma ora no

Non ho l'età
Non ho l'età per amarti
Non ho l'età per uscire sola con te

Se tu vorrai
Se tu vorrai
Aspettarmi
Quel giorno avrai
Tutto il mio amore per te




Wie eine Blume am Winterbeginn
Und so wie ein Feuer im eisigen Wind
Wie eine Puppe, die keiner mehr mag
Fühl ich mich an manchem Tag

Dann seh ich die Wolken, die über uns sind
Und höre die Schreie der Vögel im Wind
Ich singe aus Angst vor dem Dunkel mein Lied
Und hoffe, dass nichts geschieht

Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Sonne
Für diese Erde, auf der wir wohnen
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Freude
Ein bisschen Wärme, das wünsch ich mir

Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Träumen
Und dass die Menschen nicht so oft weinen
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Liebe
Dass ich die Hoffnung nie mehr verlier

Ich weiß, meine Lieder, die ändern nicht viel
Ich bin nur ein Mädchen, das sagt, was es fühlt
Allein bin ich hilflos, ein Vogel im Wind
Der spürt, dass der Sturm beginnt

Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Sonne
Für diese Erde, auf der wir wohnen
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Freude
Ein bisschen Wärme, das wünsch ich mir

Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Träumen
Und dass die Menschen nicht so oft weinen
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Liebe
Dass ich die Hoffnung nie mehr verlier

Sing mit mir ein kleines Lied
dass die Welt im Frieden lebt
Singt mit mir ein kleines Lied
dass die Welt im Frieden lebt

The Fly

Howl in one.

Standing on a golf course
Dressed in P.V.C.
I chanced upon a Golf Girl
Selling cups of tea
She asked me did I want one
Asked me with a grin
For three pence you can buy one
Full right to the brim

So of course I had to have one
In fact I ordered three
So I could watch the Golf Girl
Could see she fancied me
And later on the golf course
After drinking tea
It started raining golf balls
And she protected me

Her name was Pat
And we sat under a tree
She kissed me
We go for walks
In fine weather
All together
On the golf course
We talk in morse

This is it.....

Is this my favourite song of all time??

Probably.



I could tell you lies
And spoil the surprise
I could say we made the team
But who needs them anyway?

Who needs a clean break
As long as we get laid
And paid

I guess you could say
We Made The Team
As long as we get laid
And paid

I guess you could say
We made the team...

Top 50 Outrageous trousers

Today, The Irish Times published a list of the 50 best Irish 'music acts' RIGHT NOW and top of the pops, first in the list, is yesboyicecream's very own MICHAEL KNIGHT. The list details levels of awesomeness for various Irish 'acts, awarding Michael Knight an 'awesomeness' rating of 50. Curiously, many of the acts one might expect them to rate more highly are only awarded single-digit ratings.

There is also an online discussion of the list.

I have nothing to add other than I thought it a little ungenerous for one commentator to remark that the list spoke volumes for the level of quality within Irish music at the moment.

NEXT UP: THE BATS - THE GUILTY OFFICE! It is a great, great record and I am going to post some mp3s from it here.

I can't help it...

My friends, please, hear me do
I've got a message just for you

Now have you someone who you really love -
A special person who you think the whole world of?
And does this someone have a hold on you -
And they won't let go, but you don't want them to?

And so, to whom it concerns
All yours in love, that's whom it concerns
You can't help it, you like it feeling this way
You wanna be loved everyday

You can't sleep at night 'cos love is on your mind
And that's how love can sometimes treat you so unkind
When at last sleep comes, who do you dream of?
The most wonderful person, yes, the one you love

And so, to whom it concerns
All yours in love, that's whom it concerns
You can't help it, you like it feeling this way
You wanna be loved everyday

And so, to whom it concerns
All yours in love, that's whom it concerns
You can't help it, you like it feeling this way
You wanna be loved everyday

Wouldn't it be grand to have cash on demand?

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Bangor
A beautiful day we had lunch on the way
And all for under a pound you know
But on the way back I cuddled with Jack
And we opened a bottle of cider
Singing a few of our favourite songs as the wheels went round

Do you recall the thrill of it all as we walked along the sea front
Then on the sand we heard a brass band that played De Diddle De Bum Ta Ra Ra
Elsie and me had some cups of tea then we took a peddler boat out
Splashing away as we toured round the bay and the wheels went round

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Bangor
A beautiful day we had lunch on the way
And all for under a pound you know
But on the way back I cuddled with Jack
And we opened a bottle of cider
Singing a few of our favourite songs as the wheels went round

Wasn't it nice eating chocolate ice as we strolled around the funfair
Then we ate eels on the big Ferris wheel as we sailed above the ground but then
We had to be quick because Elsie felt sick and we had to find somewhere to take her
I said to her lad "what made her feel bad?" ‘twas the wheel going round

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Bangor
A beautiful day we had lunch on the way
And all for under a pound you know
But on the way back I cuddled with Jack
And we opened a bottle of cider
Singing a few of our favourite songs as the wheels went round

Elsie and me we finished our tea, and said goodbye to the sea side
Back on the bus Flo says to us oh isn't it a shame to go
Wouldn't it be grand to have cash on demand, and to live like this for always
Oh it makes me feel ill when I think of the Mill and the wheels going round

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Bangor
A beautiful day we had lunch on the way
And all for under a pound you know
Then on the way back I cuddled with Jack
And we opened a bottle of cider
Singing a few of our favourite songs as the wheels went round

YOU ROPAH - VIDJO - w/FRIDJ

Always been suckers for fridge-based films...


Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Europa from Bo Mikael Hall on Vimeo.

All these people, are they cool?

Suburban Kids - 1999 on ice....



Is this cool?

Is this cool?

Is this cool?

Is this cool?

Is this cool?

Is that cool?

All these people, are they cool?

Is this cool?

This guy, cool is he?

This guy, is he cool?

This woman, is she cool?

So, what about me? Do I look cool?

Well, do I?

Do I look cool? Do I really look cool?

Do I? Do I? Do I?

Yes or no? Find out tonight on BBC2.

I've seen this happen....

The world lives in your front room.
You're sitting happy in gloom.
Fate worries you, you will not give her room.
You give credit for might, inspiration and sight.
But you miss the point.
You won't join and fight,
You think to use is to lose so you're clinging, pulling pleading.

Try to keep it safe.
Keep it cosy but it feels so out of place
You're feeling a loss but you're not fit to make it
You're offered so much but you're frightened to take it.

It never was really proved, never was understood.
But there really is no virtue in the good.
The shouting's so loud that they'd do better to mime
You're deafened and you cannot hear the rhyme.
But secrets in whispers pull you, try to tempt you.

Try and keep it safe
Keep it cosy but it feels so out of place
You're feeling a loss but you're not fit to make it
You offered so much but you're not gonna to take it.

You beg for help and advice, how to handle your life.
But you dare not move, you cannot pay the price.
Chances slip, you just chatter, flatter, to forget what matters.
Spout your lines, read all your books,
You hear the sounds, miss all the hooks,
Your best is what you least understand,
You hate the graft, won't join the race,
You're scared to scar your pretty face
Safe now cos your head's in the sand

Keep it...

Joe Dolce Vita

If dreams were eagles...

Mmm-mmm mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm mmm-mmm-mmm mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm mmm mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm mmm-mmm-mmm mmm-mmm

Seven tears are flowin' to the river
Seven tears are runnin' to the sea.
If one day they reach some distant waters
Then you'll know it's sent with love from me.

Here I stand, head in hand
Lonely like a stranger on the shore.
I can't stand this feeling anymore.
Day by day this world's all grey
And if dreams were eagles I would fly
But they ain't and that's the reason why.

Seven tears are flowin' to the river
Seven tears are runnin' to the sea.
If one day they reach some distant waters
Then you'll know it's sent with love from me.

Oh my darling, oh my pretty lady
Golden star that leads to paradise.
Like a river's running to the ocean
I'll come back to you four thousand miles.

Here I stand, head in hand
Lonely like a stranger on the shore.
I can't stand this feeling anymore.
Day by day this world's all grey
And if dreams were eagles I would fly
But they ain't and that's the reason why.

Seven tears are flowin' to the river
Seven tears are runnin' to the sea.
If one day they reach some distant waters
Then you'll know it's sent with love from me.

Oh my darling, oh my pretty lady
Golden star that leads to paradise.
Like a river's running to the ocean
I'll come back to you four thousand miles.
-------------------------------------
THE REAL EL DORADO ISN'T MADE OUT OF DIAMONDS AND GOLD. IT'S THE IMMORTAL YEARNING FOR PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE HEARTS OF EVERYONE.




They came five hundred years ago
They stole the gold of Mexico.
Killed the people one by one
Only talking with their guns.

Brave men locked in iron chains
All young mothers sold as slaves
Babies crying through the night
Will they ever see the light?

Golden dreams of El Dorado
All have drowned in seas of pain and blood
Golden dreams of El Dorado
May come true but only in your hearts.

Reach out your hands and you'll be free
Then we shall live in liberty.
Or will mankind never learn?
Shall the whole world die and burn

Golden dreams of El Dorado
All have drowned in seas of pain and blood
Golden dreams of Eldorado
May come true - but only in your heart.

Within the memory of man
The search for happiness has never ended
But the gates of Eden will ever be closed
For those Conquistadors who are only hungry
For power and might
Because the real El Dorado
Isn't made out of diamonds and gold
It's the immortal yearning
for peace, love and understanding
in the hearts of everyone

Golden dreams of El Dorado
All have drowned in seas of pain and blood
Golden dreams of Eldorado
May come true - but only in your heart.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Hell is full of good intentions or desires

What is PDA?

What is PDA?

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Can't find Showaddywaddy's version of "(You've Got) Personality", so this will have to do.

Oh-oh-over and over
I'll prove my love to you
Over and over, what more can I do
Over and over, my friends say I'm a fool
But oh-oh-over and over
I'll be a fool for you

'Cause you've got - (personality)
Walk - (personality) talk - (personality)
Smile - (personality) charm - (personality)
Love - (personality)
'Cause you got a great big heart
Well over -and over
I'll be a fool for you
Well, well, well over and over
What more can I do

'Cause you've got - (personality)
Walk - (personality) talk - (personality)
Smile - (personality) charm - (personality)
Love - (personality)
'Cause you got a great big heart
Well over - and over
I'll be a fool for you
Now, now, now over and over
What more can I do

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-over and over
I said that I loved you
Over and over, honey now it's the truth
Over and over, my friends say that I'm a fool
But oh-oh-over and over
I'll be a fool for you

Here's some Showaddywaddy anyway....."I Wonder Why"

Know why I love you like I do.
Know why I do.

Don't know why I love you,
Don't know why I care,
I just want your love to share.

I wonder why I love you like I do,
Is it because I think you love me to,
I wonder why I love you like I do,
Like I do.

I told my friends that we would never part,
They often said that you would break my heart,
I wonder why they think that we will part,
We will part.

When your with me I'm sure your always true,
When I'm away I wonder what you do,
I wonder why, I'm sure your always true,
Always true.

I wonder why I love you like I do,
Is it because I think you love me too,
I wonder why I love you like I do,
Like I do.

Dem check sey we hip and ting

See me in me heels and ting
Dem check sey we hip and ting
True them no know and ting
We have them going and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

See me pon the road I hear you call out to me
True you see mi inna pants and ting
See mi in a 'alter back
Sey mi gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking

See mi in mi Benz and ting
Drivin' through Constant Spring
Them check sey me come from cosmo spring
But a true dem no know and ting
Dem no know sey we top ranking
Uptown Top Ranking

Shoulda see me and the ranking dread
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

Watch how we chuck it and ting
Inna we khaki suit and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

Love inna you heart dis a bawl out fe me
When you see me inna pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking

See mi pon the road and hear you call out to me
True you see me in me pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

You shoulda see me and the ranking dread,
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

--------------------------------------------

test

this is a test.

TEST.

I Need You - The Positions by yesboyicecream

This is a FACT.

Before we publish the full audited review of yesboyicecream's 2008, we would just like to point out the following...

According to its website, The Sunday Business Post (Ireland's financial, political and economic newspaper) has grown out of, and continues to develop according to, a clearly defined set of guiding conditions, principles and goals.

One of these goals is: News, not views.

This is explained thuswise: "We believe in the neglected but still essential value of reporting the news, of recording and communicating the facts, events and developments of the commercial life of the country."

This is relevant because, in its December 21st edition, the brilliant, handsome and hardly-ever-wrong Johnnie Craig had this to say about Michael Knight's album, in his review of the year's best music.

"It may be the age of instant, one-song downloads, but 2008 was chock-full of truly excellent and artfully-crafted long-players...[snip]...Top billing has to go to Richie Murphy’s Michael Knight, whose flamboyant and meticulously-arranged second album, I’m Not Entirely Clear How I Ended Up Like This, should be sought by anyone with a penchant for Neil Hannon, or even Noel Coward. Wonderful stuff."

This is, we repeat, the opinion of a brilliant journalist, who is hardly-ever-wrong.

As such, it would be remiss of you not to buy Michael Knight's album from the yesboyicecream shop today. Or at least download a track or two to see what the fuss is all about. Michael Knight's myspace is here...

On the Inspiration and Motivation to Label Records (Part I of Part I): A Clarification.

Having read back over Part I, we would like to apologise sincerely for the appalling lack of substance. All will be remedied in Part II, in which we will be 'dropping' names with such frequency that you would be forgiven for thinking that, if we were literally dropping actual physical objects, it would be because they were so hot (temperature-wise) that we couldn’t physically hold on to them and that would be the why the dropping is occurring.

Thanks.

On the Inspiration and Motivation to Label Records (Part I of Part I)

Ra-Ra-Arshavin, Arsenal's Russian Goal Machine.

E-bay bargains (Part I)

The trials and tribulations of trying to actually sell cds...

We do admire the enterprise of people who try to sell secondhand cds on e-bay for more than it costs to just buy it new directly from the label*. Almost as much as we admire the enterprise of folk who get sent stuff for free to review and then decide, rather than just giving them away to someone they think might enjoy it, to make some money.

I'm Not Entirely Clear How I Came Up With The Price For This

According to XE.com, this is about €17.50 and you pay postage on top. It's available from yesboyicecream for €15 and postage is included. However, if you buy it from yesboyicecream, you won't get the gammy sticker and the cd will still be sealed.

A while ago, there was someone selling a promo SKWBN CDR for £10. A two-track cdr without any cover for ten units of a legitimate currency. Madness. It was then we realised that the global financial system was bound to fail. It remains unsold but has now been reduced to £1.

Ooh, we're such curmudgeons. Feel our impotent wrath!

Within the next couple of months, we may also do a blog on the great downloading debate of 1879. We guarantee to resolve this quandry in less than 3,000 words. Or your money back. Not that anyone pays for anything anymore..........burn! (Get a new business model, loser!)

* - Just to clarify that we obviously have no problem with stores or distributors, etc selling new cds for more than it costs to buy it directly from the label. They have legitimate overheads, etc, which makes a mark-up necessary. The difference, compared to the e-bay bargains, is that the label gets something from these sales. In fact, we actually prefer people to buy our cds from shops/distributors/etc. We get less money but it encourages the stores to stock our future releases. As long as it's not a review or secondhand copy, we're cool with that... Not genuinely cool, clearly, now that we've used that phrase.

In 2009, we will mostly be...(Part I)

In 2009, we will mostly be...

1. Trying to use blogs, bulletins, and email to tell more people about what yesboyicecream is up to during the year with releases, bands and positive lifestyle choices. Effective communication shall be the bullseye on our personal development dartboard for 2009. We had previously bet the house on the internet being a fad - predicting it would be overtaken by wireless etch-a-sketch by 2007 - but it seems it's here to stay. So, we're now trying to smoothly sidle up to it without coming over too desperate.

Obviously, maintaining a blog represents quite a departure from our previous corporate communication policies - we only acquired our first mobile phone two months ago and that still feels very wrong. However, if this exercise helps more people get their listening gear around the music we believe you really should be listening to, then it's a sacrifice worth making. Nonetheless, if it becomes clear that no-one's actually reading anything we've written, we reserve the right to get bored very quickly, pack up our things and go home.

Firstly, we are particularly excited about the following yesboyicecream release....

The Bats - The Guilty Office (March)

The Guilty Office (the Bats' seventh full-length album) is already out in New Zealand but is due for release in Europe in March. Little Teddy is releasing it on vinyl in Germany and yesboyicecream is releasing it on CD in the UK and Ireland. It should be available for pre-order in February. Undertheradar (NZ) dubbed it "some of The Bats' finest work". If you were smart, you'd pre-pre-order it now. Still can't believe we're putting out a record by The Bats...

Secondly, there should - really, really should - also be a new EP from DC's finest The Positions at some point in the new year on yesboyicecream. This will, hopefully, present itself as a perfectly-formed 10" EP. What we've heard so far suggests that this may be the release that finally secures Ivan Ramiscal the Nobel Prize for Pop. And not before time.

Thirdly, even though it's not out on yesboyicecream, we are delighted that there is finally some new Suburban Kids with Biblical Names material coming out (#4 EP on Labrador in February).

The cover looks like this:

Confirming our belief that no one makes better-looking records than SKWBN.

We have been listening to the EP for the last few weeks and are now firmly convinced that Johan and Peter have been sent by angels/aliens to safeguard the future of pop for us and our children. Not that we really believe in angels or aliens. Or have children. We just wanted to emphasise how much we like it. You can hear a couple of tracks from it on their myspace:

www.myspace.com/suburbankidswithbiblicalnames

You might recognise some of the songs from the gigs they played on their UK & Ireland gigs in 2007, where a lot of the material for #4 and #5 was played for the first time, before being rewritten, revised, refined and perfected in the SKWBN pop factory.

Here is some more "records not coming out on yesboyicecream that we want to do well" news.

Quite rightly, everyone adores The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, whose self-titled album is out in February on Slumberland in the US and Fortuna Pop in the UK. As a favour to Fortuna Pop's el presidente, we offered the band an unswept and unyielding floor while they passed through Dublin on their recent jaunt through Ireland and Great Britain. They are as polite as they are pretty. They write the kind of noisy love songs we like. Buy their record.

In Part II of "In 2009, we will mostly be...", we will have lots more news about releases in 2009 (or at least spreading unfounded rumours of a new record by Phil Wilson) and a review of yesboyicecream's performance in 2008. Expect this sometime in 2010.