Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world The humble cassette has had a lot of bad press over the years. From unspooling tragedies, to the fact that the song you want to hear is always on the other side, to those who see analogue as an obsolete technology, it seems no one is prepared to give the tape a break. Yet, over the last few years the cassette has been making something of a comeback. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Over the last couple of weeks it seems all that everyone has been talking about in the world of music is the return of Adele. The blanket coverage given to 25 would make anyone think she was the only artist to be releasing music anymore. Thankfully this is not the case! By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world There is a deep electronic flavour to many of the albums reviewed this week. As a fan of all things dark, autumn is a fantastic time of year for me as producers start to release music which evokes a world of Gothic gloom. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world The singles market has systematically been destroyed over the last few years. For me, the process began with the decision to limit the length of a single, and how many songs it can contain. Before this we had bands like The Orb releasing 40 minute songs and bands such as The Verve and Oasis bringing out sublime four track EPs. By diminishing its value the humble single became even more disposable than it already was. Nobody took chances anymore! By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world: August/September New albums reviewed Part 2 If there is one thing I have learned from life so far it is that sadness can be a fine thing. It let’s you know you are human in an increasingly robotic world. Without sadness the majority of great art and literature would be shallow, soulless things. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Even though I gave up clubbing a few years ago, I am constantly amazed at how quality dance music can still move me as much as it does. A good bassline, a swirl of 303s or a fathoms-deep groove is all I need to be taken back to the joys of a darkened floor. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Just in time for the sanitised hedonism of Ibiza, May and June have brought a slew of turgid house ‚bangers‘ that are so tired and uninspiring they make the decision to insert red hot pokers into both your ears seem like an extremely good idea. Yet, trust me when I tell you that there is some wonderful music out there. To prove the point this follow-up to last weeks article highlights some more amazing singles and EPs, from the likes of Robag Wruhme, Gardens Of God. Felix
Bittles‘ Magazine | Interview Kevin McKay might not know this, but he was partly responsible for instilling my love of deep house. In the early to mid 90s a string of record labels such as Soma, Junior Boys Own, Guerilla and Stress brought out a stream of music that sounded like the best thing you had ever heard. At the very forefront of this house renaissance was Kevin’s Muzique Tropique and later Glasgow Underground labels which, between them, released numerous tracks which sent shivers up and down the spine. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles‘ Magazine I am moving house this month, and have thus gone a little bit insane. But since I have always believed that all great art needs a mixture of talent, madness, depression, anger and despair I’m attempting to put all the stress and emotional turmoil to good use by writing a story about a cowboy rat, (he’s called Bradley Scott, and he doesn’t like ketchup, shampoo commercials, or people who make fun of his hat). By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles‘ Magazine As part of my New Year’s resolutions I was going to give up listening to music, and take up dog-walking instead. Then I realised that I didn’t actually have a dog. And the cat rather unhelpfully refuses to be walked, claiming to be too embarrassed to be seen with me in public. So, a little sheepishly I have immersed myself back within the forgiving world of rhythmic sound. By JOHN BITTLES
