Yo! Welcome to the GIGANTIC blog. The primary purpose of this place is to promote music that we’re into, and that we’d like other people to hear too. We want to try and help break new bands and tracks, and also like to dig up old classics that we think need more exposure. Essentially, we want to help makes tunes Gigantic. Of course, we do enjoy throwing out the big pop and electro bangers as well, we’re not music snobs.
12/06/11
Back In Black
Today I DJ’d at the Black Market at the Black Box, Belfast, for the second time. It was great fun. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Black Market, it’s a cool collection of stalls that sell everything from underground comics to vintage clothes, boutique jewellery, embroidery, vinyl, special curry powders and tons of other stuff. It takes place every month, and has the added bonus of being indoors, which means that even when it’s raining (like today) you can still have a wee shop and stay dry. The Black Box Café is open during it too, so you can grab a bite of pizza or a cup of coffee too. There is live music and workshops in the café through the day, plus today there were special DJ sets from Adam Turkington and Phil Harrison from 5pm.
The whole atmosphere of the market is great. The stalls are all independent, and it attracts a really nice crowd of people. Today was really busy, and it’s a fun place to hang out even if you aren’t looking to shop too heavily. It’s hard not to spend money at the place though, as there are just so many interesting wares on offer. Today I bought a Bruce Springsteen album (my first ever!) and a Talking Heads record. I am finding it increasingly hard to resist buying vinyl.
So anyway, DJing at the Black Market is always class craic. It’s not like the normal sets I play, where I’m constantly trying to keep the dance floor moving and reading the crowd. Sunday afternoons aren’t about partying, they’re about playing interesting music you would like people to hear, and that will provide some nice background sounds for people to browse to. There is so much less pressure on what you have to play, and so many more opportunities to go off piste. Here are a few of my favourite tracks of the day.
‘All In Need’ is probably my all-time favourite Air song. It’s just has such a floaty, blissful, drifting feel. The whole thing sounds like one big romantic, post-sex sigh. I could be getting this vibe from the video, which is also great (check it out on YouTube here).
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Air – All I Need (right click to download)
Next up is a track that has kept popping up on my iPod when I’m shuffling songs. It’s ‘Dust Devil’ by School Of Seven Bells. I’m not sure if it’s about a vacuum cleaner, because I haven’t listened to the lyrics that closely, but It probably is.
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School Of Seven Bells – Dust Devil (right click to download)
And lastly here is a tune that is really old, but I rarely play and have been dying to blog for ages. It’s ‘The Margaretville Dance’ by The Prize Fighter Inferno, which is the solo project of Coheed & Cambria front man Claudio Sanchez. It’s a bit weird, but for some reason I really like it.
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The Prize Fighter Inferno – The Margaretville Dance (right click to download)
And here is the full set list…
Air – All I Need
Animal Collective – My Girls
Delorean – Stay Close
Metronomy – The Look
Parallel Dance Ensemble – Possessions
Toro Y Moi – New Beat
Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love
Cut Copy – Far Away
Darwin Deez – Constellations
Biblio – Anything New
LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends
Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
m83 – Kim & Jessie
Miike Snow – Song For No One
Modest Mouse – The Good Times Are Killing Me
The Arcade Fire – Haiti
Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place
ESG- Moody (Spaced Out)
Wolfram – Roshi
School Of Seven Bells – Dust Devil
Tune-Yards – Gangsta
OK Go – Oh Lately It’s So Quiet
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Foals – Spanish Sahara
Holy Fuck – Lovely Allen
Junior Boys – In The Morning
Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work
Tigercity – Other Girls
The Prizefighter Inferno – The Margaretville Dance
The Postal Service – Sleeping In
The Black Market takes place on the second Sunday of each month. Get on it.