On the Shed this week: Tricity Vogue & Francis Powell

Tricity Vogue

Here in the Shed, we like to think that we give you something different to listen to. Something that you wouldn’t hear on your other, less interesting radio stations. And that’s why we’re bringing you the brilliant Tricity Vogue, a woman who describes her own music as “cheeky jazz”. Backed up by a seven-piece “slinktet” (her word, not ours), Tricity’s unique jazz/pop reminds us of nothing else on the Shed playlist, blending swing, jazz, latin and well – anything else. Sometimes she just pops up on stage with a ukulele, and sometimes she’s backed by the full band – whichever you get, you’ll always get that cheeky voice.

Tricity is otherwise known as Heather Tyrrell, and you’re bound to find her in London doing the cabaret circuit.

Francis Powell

We go back into the Paris Shed for a relatively short, but nonetheless fascinating conversation with Mr Francis Powell – otherwise known as DJ Wise, otherwise known as Ashram Oberoi, otherwise known as… well, you get the picture. Paris’ very own renaissance man, Francis Powell is an artist who never sets limits for himself.

Whether it be the written word, the paintbrush or the techno beat and sample, Francis has always been at the forefront of the Paris underground scene (if an underground scene could have a forefront), and tries to hide the fact that he once appeared as a gorilla on Top of the Pops.

Listen to Francis himself as well as some of his music, with Jonny Sly and Gareth Cartman in the Shed.

Three new artists on the playlist: Delays, The Hand & Michael Macri

Delays

Delays, who hail from Southampton, are somehow unsigned, but not for long as there is no doubt a long line of record labels queuing up to sign the hottest thing to come out of Southampton since Matt Le Tissier. Sounding like a cross between the Stone Roses and Fleetwood Mac (if you can imagine that), they’ve already caught the attention of the NME and The Guardian.

New album “Everything’s The Rush” is out now, and it’s bloody good, if you like proper soaring Indie music that’s a cut above the average. We do. That’s why we’ve added “Nearer Than Heaven” and “Valentine” to the Shed FM playlist.

The Hand

Bristol-based The Hand are the latest ukulele-inspired group to have wowed the Shed. Here’s what they say about themselves:

We met a couple of years ago, down Bristol harbour working on the ferry-boats, where we would sing songs on sunny days, and then suddenly it occured to us we should make some new songs and started to write together from scratch using banjo, kora, ukelele, piano, harmonium, autoharp and clarinet.

A lot of what we do is instrumental, and when we sing it is usually together and usually in harmony.

We spent two rainy weeks this summer recording in the Self-Build-Project (where our friends have built their own house) and our new album ‘Berries From The Rubble’ is now ready and available to buy.

We think they’re awesome – a mixture of ukulele, banjo, kora, harmonium, clarinet and whatever else they’ve learnt to play, it’s something completely unique on the Shed FM playlist. Go to the myspace site to hear more from them, and their album, Berries From The Rubble is available to buy there.

Michael Macri

If his website is a trip back to the 1990s, his music is a welcome trip back to the 70s and the down and dirty blues that us Shed types reminisce about. We can just imagine this one playing in this blues bar in Brussels – the type that has straw on the floor and unshaven types drinking cheap beer at the bar, looking at you as if you won’t leave the bar alive. Great stuff. Can’t wait to go back.

Anyway, we digress… we’ve added “I Can’t Drink With You” (great title) to the Shed FM playlist, and we didn’t hesitate a split second. It’s a buzzing, heady blues-filled anthem about the Melbourne Gang Wars (we didn’t even know…), and the video to go with it is just bloody brilliant.

Michael doesn’t stop with the 70s blues, he hits glam, 80s new wave, heavy metal and pop – but all with that voice (check out White Bearded Man). So Michael – welcome to the playlist, where you belong.