I Forgot...

.... how much I love The Kills.

**GOLDEN OLDIES**

My hunger for an old school girl band and needing to hear more ska music and finally been satisfied at once by the discovery of The Bodysnatchers.

The Bodysnatchers were a seven piece all female ska band, the only all female band on 2 Tone Records, who started life when bassist Nicky Summers put an ad in Melody Maker after being blown away by The Specials at an early gig.

She recruited vocalist and songwriter Rhoda Dakar, Stella Barker on rhythm guitar, SJ Owen on lead guitar, Pennie Leyton on keyboards, Jane Summers on drums and Miranda Joyce on saxophone.

Like all of my favourite bands the Bodysnatcher girls were either self taught or didn't know how to play at all so they just winged it and hoped something good came out.



Apparently they settled on their name because "the music is body snatching" which is a great way to look at music.

They played their first gig in November 1979 in Windsir Castle pub in London. Within a couple of months the band landed a support slot on tour with Selector and got signed by 2 Tone Records.

Due to their lack of experience the band mostly played covers including their biggest hit 'Let's Do The Rocksteady'.



As quickly as they rose to fame, they descended in the same way. The Bodysnatchers disbanded in October 1980 citing 'musical differences'.

Nicky and Rhoda were meant to work together afterwards but nothing came of it. A few band members found success with The Belle Stars and Rhoda released a single with Special AKA.

It's a shame how history has more or less erased this group but we can still enjoy them for the rude girls they were.

**ONES TO WATCH**

Lo-fi girl gangs have ruled the indie airways in America and the UK and it seems the rest of the world have caught the lo-fi bug seeing as the latest lo-fi darlings are from Costa Rica.

Las Robertas are a girl group who make jangly, romantic, fuzzy 2 minute songs that it's impossible not to love.    Sweet vocal harmonies, fuzzy guitars and love filled lyrics make Las Robertas a band to keep your eye on.

The group could be thought of in the same vein as American bands such as Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls and, of course, Vivian Girls.

The group have released their debut album, Cry Out Loud, and it is available to download from their bandcamp page.

Listen, like and then fall in love with Las Robertas. You won't regret it.


Las Robertas - Back to the End from Diego Arias on Vimeo.

myspace.com/lasrobertas
lasrobertas.bandcamp.com
lasrobertas.blogspot.com

*MIXTAPE TAPE ALERT* Feminist Anthems Pt. 1

I've been looking forward to this summer for a while for various reasons, it's my birthday in August, but mainly because it looks like there is going to be a big ol' feminist summer of sorts.

Ladyfest Ten is well on its way with the organinsing and will be holding fundraising event throughout summer up to the festival in November. The arts collective Storm in a Tea Cup are organising various club nights, fanzine and even a record label in order to promote women in the arts. Also the UK Feminista Summer Camp weekend takes place in a couple of weeks and it looks like it's going to be good.

Here is the first part of my mixtape dedicated to our summer of feminism featuring a pleathora of great songs that have spoken to women over the years. From Lesley Gore to The Distillers women throughout history have been writing about women's issues.

We have a long way to walk till we get anyway near equality but we'll need some tunes for the journey.

Tracklisting:
1. Seneca Falls- The Distillers
2. I Am Woman- Helen Reddy
3. You Don't Own Me- Lesley Gore
4. Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)- Ravonettes
5. Man-Size- PJ Harvey
6. Sold Out-Sleater-Kinney
7. Why Don't You Love Me- Beyonce
8. Terrorist- Heavens To Betsy
9. Ladies First- Queen Latifah
10. Respect- Aretha Franklin

**UNDER COVER** What's Love 'Scot To Do 'Scot To With It....

....When you're rolling on a river.

**ONES TO WATCH**

If you think that I get all of my new music from 6 Music then you would be correct (It's Lauren Laverne she's too nice you can't help but listen to her) but this is a great band.

Haight-Ashbury are a Glaswegian trio who make music that evokes their heroes such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. The band is made up of Scott James Ashbury on guitar, Jennifer Ashbury on vocals/drums and Kirsty Heather (you guessed it) Ashbury on vocals/bass.

Even though they are from Scotland the trio have a free spirit, peace and love, San Francisco hippy thing about them.

My favourite song is 'Freeman Town' where the two female singers harmonise and discuss, well this is my interpretation, the ideas of female solidarity and freedom.

Me and my girl ain't hangin' around/ Livin' out here in a Freeman town

I get the feeling this band are going to get big soon so listen  to them now and you can say I knew them when.

myspace.com/haightashburyuk

**SONG OF THE MONTH**

At the moment I'm almost overdosing on Kristin Hersh. I've had 'Shimmer' on repeat for the last few days, 'Counting Backwards' may become my theme tune but I'm also really loving a certain song from her more recent band 50 Foot Wave.

The Song of the Month is the energetic 'Clara Bow' from the band's first EP 50 Foot Wave.

Whenever I hear it my previously un-rhythmic limbs start working together and flailing around the room. I hear that's what the kids call dancing these days.

Anyway I love it, you'll love so go off and flail your limbs around. That's what I'll be doing.