Headsound: Will Varley - Weddings & Wars (An 8-Bit History Of The World)

Check out the history of the world according Will Varley and Nintendo in this terrific 8-bit video. Varley created the video using 90s software and his lyrics ingeniously sum up mankind's occupation of the planet with observations like 'Now instead of hunting we go to Tesco / Instead if talking we wear headphones.'
It's a brilliant piece of English folk that leaves us wondering if we can or even deserve to make it to the last level.

Show: Wooden Arms and Many Poets

Alex from Wooden Arms by Matt Widgery

This show features recordings from the recent Shindig/Allographic gig at the Unitarian Church featuring Wooden Arms accompanying the best poets from Cambridge and around. Wooden Arms play the next Shindig event on February 14th. Details here.

You can hear all recordings from the night at shallowrecords.co.uk.

Shindig/Allographic Special with Wooden Arms and many poets by Headstand on Mixcloud

Headsound: Sound Menagerie - Stay With Me

Cambridge duo Sound Menagerie release Stay With Me on Oh Mercy Records on February 3rd. Singer Abi Parker is the perfect vehicle for songwriter Stephen C Wilson's lyrics. The duo released the album 'Far or Through' in 2011 and are currently working on new material.

Headsound - A.F. Harrold - The Plankton Party

Since starting this feature I haven't included much spoken word. I wish more poets released recordings of their work. Recently I discovered Cats are Better Than Fish by A.F. Harrold, a whole album of wonderfully weird words with a dash of abstract music for good measure. Enjoy the opening track below then click through to listen to, and purchase, the rest of the album.

Show: 12.1.14

Join me from my private Cambridge studio for another hour of music and spoken word including Wooden Arms and Hollie Mcnish who are both performing at a special music and spoken word event with many more poets including me. Get full details from: https://www.facebook.com/events/237739173052572/?fref=ts.

12.1.14 by Headstand on Mixcloud

Headsound: Mega Emotion - Brains

In honour of their appearance at The Portland this Thursday, this week's Headsound comes from Mega Emotion. The band formed by ex-members of Bearsuit appeared on a number of lists of bands to watch in 2014 despite only having released one song.
Brains is a smashing slice of disco rock. Check out the video below directed by poet, writer and multimedia extraordinaire Ross Sutherland and buy the track at megaemotion.bandcamp.com. Get to the Portland early on Thursday to hear them supporting Model Village who are launching their new album.

Headsound: Aidan Smith and his Indulgent Friends - Be The Parade

Happy New Year! We kick off 2014 with a grand carnival of a pop song from Aidan Smith and his Indulgent Friends from the new album Phone Me If You're Bored. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist makes it sound easy on this relentlessly jolly song packed with mellow and funky grooves to lift the spirits during the dark winter days.
2013 was a productive year for Aidan who not only released this album but had enough songs left for another album and a half. We'll be hearing from him a lot in 2014 and hopefully not just on Headstand. You can hear another track from Phone Me If You're Bored on the last show after which you'll want to purchase a copy. It's available now on CD and vinyl on Interbang Records.