She's a model and she's looking good

Hello again, it's great to get some feedback on this blog.

In answer to one or two questions, yes The Cure will feature at some point soon. Go here if you just can't wait.

Secondly, the photograph was not of myself and family member but of Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton of the aforementioned Arab Strap. When you click on the link you'll recognise the photo.

I have been reading other blogs - do this, it's great seeing just where you end up, and see what you come across. Following a link yesterday on the Hype Machine which is installed to the right of this, led me to a french website, which has some great stuff on it. (My French is not up to understanding it all, but that is nobody's fault but mine.) This in turn led me to discover a fantastic band I had never heard of before called Canasta. If you like The Arcade Fire or Belle and Sebastian, these should tickle your palette. Apparently they have also played with The Delgados (RIP) and Clap your Hands Say Yeah.

Their cover of Kraftwerk's The Model is fantastic, taken from an EP called Find the Time which apparently has sold out. They also have completed an album called We were Set Up and there are plenty more tracks posted on the website. Go and check these out.

Canasta - The Model.mp3
Canasta-Slow Down Chicago.mp3
Canasta - Impostors.mp3a>

You can buy Canasta music here

And to the people who said that they didn't want to become boring old Radio 4 type farts (nothing wrong with that!), check the following out too:

!!!-'Hello? Is This Thing On?.mp3'

!!! -or Chk Chk Chk as they were known when I worked in a record store (NB your iPOD WON'T file them under C!), hail from New York. They are fantastic, go check 'em out.

This is from their album 'Louden Up Now.' Remember: go and buy it if you like it.

Finally, Yo La Tengo have a new album out on September 4 (September 12 for those in America, apparently) called 'I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass.' That's us told, then. Anyway, whether or not you have ever heard them, give this a listen. And go and buy the album when it comes out (have just checked Amazon; they don't have a listing for it at the moment). (The compilation 'Prisoners of Love' is a great place to start if you like what you hear).

Yo La Tengo - Beanbag Chair.mp3