Albums from Olivia Louvel and Botched Fairytale

Olivia Louvel sent us a new track back in March 2009 - the spiky, moody, bass heavy Army Of Dolls... little did we know that it was just the beginning of a whole album, Doll Divider, from the French born composer and producer. We played the track for Tom Robinson on his 6 Music Introducing show, he loved it, we loved it and that was that. Or so we thought... we received a beautiful vinyl copy of Olivia's album in the post a month or so ago. Composed using synth loops and percussive rhythms on her laptop, the album is glitchy, mysterious, DIY, minimal... all those good things, if not simultaneously unnerving. You can listen and BUY at her Bandcamp here:



Botched Fairytale




Deejaying at the excellent John Peel Day at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes last year, we were approached only once during our set and it was when we played The '06 Census by Botched Fairytale. The young chap was saucer-eyed and almost frothing at the mouth about the track, which is exactly how we felt on first listen to this, their debut album. Marie O Hara and Mariel McCormack are from County Longford in Ireland and were inspired to make music back in 2008 when, they say:

"sick of sitting around complaining about the lack of lyrical content in the Irish music they heard on the radio, the duo formed because they wanted to do their bit for the situation. 

They had a vision of an album that provoked, it would be blunt and unsafe and uncomfortable, full of ideas and energy that reflected the ugliness and beauty of everyday life, an album that was universally relevant but distinctly Irish."


The album is available FOR FREE at the Bandcamp player above, thanks for giving this away free girls - it's a real gift to the music world.

The Other Woman interviews Berlin DJ, Mobilee Records boss and German minimal techno pioneer Anja Schneider, listen here

The Other Woman meets supersonic DJ Anja Schneider, post a three hour set in the early hours at London's Fabric and over a baconless BLT at her hotel. We cover Anja's early entry into dance music in Cologne as a young raver to her first mind-blowing night at the legendary Berlin club Tresor - and what inspires her? Working with the likes of homegrown Mobilee talent Sebo K and Pan Pot, also what to expect from her next album. This interview comes ahead of a special 6 Mix on BBC 6 Music to be broadcast on 10 April focusing on the best women beatmakers, producers, remixers and DJ's presented by TOW's Ruth Barnes - tune into that to hear a special from Anja and her top three tracks of all time.
   

TOW on 6 Music Introducing - Akiko Kiyama and Drunk Granny

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am. Here are our picks for the this week: 


Pick 1 - Akiko Kiyama - Flesh Got Spirit

Akiko Kiyama is from Japan, and although she makes fantastic minimalist techno she was classically educated as a young girl. At the age of 14 she discovered drum 'n bass and the rest is history. She now lives in Berlin, as you'd expect - and sent me new tracks recently, one of which I played for Tom. Richie Hawtin is a fan of her spacey techno and it's the details you have to listen out for. Click on her link above to listen to tracks on her myspace page.

Pick 2 - Drunk Granny - Our Song of the Lady Sasquatch

We love Drunk Granny on TOW! Debi and Sam are two rockers who make short, punchy, queer punk songs and they just get better. They've recently worked with Annie Gardiner from The Hysterical Injury (another awesome Bristol band fronted by another fabulous singer) and that will be out later in the year. This track is inspired by a Canadian artist Allysen Mitchell who makes the most incredible Sasquatch puppets! More here