Hey, I’m Dave Saesneg and I am Cardiff’s newest drunk.
Recorded music highlights of 2008
Oh where to start… Fredrick Stanley Star’s Heaviside Layer was easily my favourite local DIY release, followed very closely by the Truckers of Husk EP. Crystal Castles kept me dancing in my head even if they are a bunch of scener braying cunts, Marnie Stern’s LP (I’m not even going to repeat its name) was the most interesting technical record. The Evangelicals’ album was criminally ignored by almost everybody but came up with my favourite tunes of the year. I’ve recently taken to Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours and Beach House’s Devotion made me fall in love with hush. Are these all Americans? Probably. Wild Beasts Limbo, Panto is a wonderful over-bearing melodrama, and Fuck Buttons…. just BURRRRRRRRRRR.
Live music highlights of 2008
Too damn many to list. Swn was a festival (natch) of wonderful things: Cats in Paris, Casiokids, Danananakroyd and The Big Pink all changed my life, possibly. My ears are still ringing from A Place To Bury Strangers. Future of the Left cemented their reputation as Britain’s best cynical bastards in April, while Tommy’s Bar hosted the heaving Threatmantics album launch and confirmed that Cardiff has one of the fluffiest and most supportive indie scenes on the planet. Can I mention Fredrick Stanley Star? Any show of theirs, any show at all, makes me fear my mortality. And despite playing to about five people, Kania Tieffer was easily my favourite electronic lass of the year.
What else did you enjoy this year?
Being in Cardiff city centre when Wales won the Grand Slam; learning what a Welsh cake is; Old Rosie cider; stumbling out of Le Pub after any Death of Her Money show.
2008 was…
A grind if nothing else. Moving to Cardiff in the summer might have saved my life. Newport has its pluses, but its a miserably place if you’re in your mid-20s and don’t know anybody. This might get better when they open the campus in the town, but we will see. Regardless I’m convinced the capital city is one of most thoroughly nice places to live in Britain, and often feels like a comfy little village. And everyone’s gurt friendly.
2009 will be…
Fecking awesome.
