Ben and Tjinder were asked to cover for James Endeacott on Easter Monday. Catch up here:
Author: ringocortina99
Cornershop Born Disco Died Heavy Metal 1994 2016
In 1994 we recorded Born Disco; Died Heavy Metal, and put it out in tartan metal jacket and that was that (as per below), and then as part of our Hold On It Hurts album. Then we decided that that was not that and recorded it in easy listening form as part of the Hold On It’s Easy album. Now in 2016 we have decided to put vocals to it again in easy listening form, with vocals by The Mike Flowers Pops (further below). We promise not to have any other versions of it out ever, unless the opportunity presents itself, for we understand that easy listening is not always easy reading.
We have also decided to use this website more, and talk about some of the episodes the group has gone through, so if you have any questions please contact us.
1994
2016
Cornershop Ft The Mike Flowers Pops ‘Born Disco; Died Heavy Metal’ Hold The Corner EP
Last year we released our 1994 debut noisy pop album completely reworked as an easy listening vinyl slab. It came out on our label Ample Play Records and you check it out and order it here.
“Cornershop’s creative highs have sometimes seemed like the result of Tjinder Singh’s desire to prove his critics wrong – never more so than on this instrumental reworking of their debut album.” John Mulvey, Uncut
Some stated the easy lounge was reminiscent of Mike Flowers Pops. In the meantime, Tjinder had got to know Mike Flowers drummer, and it was therefore arranged that Mike would do his take on the original lyrics. The result is something that is augmented and fresh – a solid set of tracks for all the family, they are even still in keeping with the politics of the day, if not more so.
To accompany the song, the UK’s most celebrated hoola hoopers Hoop La La especially created choreographed a piece for the video (film and photography by Phil Miller) – Ooh La La Lemmy.
Out 1st of April via all digital plaftorms, including our own Ample Play.
Summer’s Up Ample Player
hip hip hooray – ‘What Did the Hippie Have in His Bag?’ workshop in France
Ollie got in touch with us to buy, and asked for additional material relating to the song/book/vinyl ‘What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag?’ to create a lesson for his children’s school. Ollie hailed from my old alma mater of Preston, so we were happily surprised that this lesson/workshop was for a French school. It sounds like it went tip-top, this is how he describes the situation in his own words:
“Being a massive Cornershop fan (and indeed owning our own Cornershop in Cornwall), whilst now living in Southern France, I was approached to donate some time and ideas for an English Day at our children’s Bilingual school, the perfect opportunity to bring my passion for music and art presented itself.
‘What Did The Hippie have In His Bag?‘ immediately sprung to mind as lending itself perfectly to the occasion. It’s an undeniably funky toe tapper of a tune, very English and my kids love it (even Nancy who, just turned three recently, knows the words and will often insert them into everyday life, e.g. Double days and bubble gum, what did Max and Nancy eat for lunch?…….it’s unknown!) The idea to instill a bit of Cornershop wisdom and humour into the French kids learning- irresistible, perhaps a little left field, maybe too bonkersly British but a challenge worth undertaking.
The kids and I knocked up a Hippie’s bag and contents over a long French Bank Holiday weekend. A couple of additions were made to tailor the story for the English Hippie in a French environment (Marmite and Curly Wurleys) and we were good to go.
Being double rubbish at French didn’t make the workshop an easy prospect but undaunted and with a Hippie bag full of enthusiasm (and Curley Wurleys) and help from Tjinder and the brilliant head teachers we were off. “OK so you all going to join in?” Yeaaaah
We played ‘Hippie’ through before reading the book with the help of props and interpretation. The repetition of the title with the children backing is great for worming its way into your head and making it irresistible for singing along to. I tried to focus on words that are similar in French and English like boobley goom, marmalade, comprehend, espace, notre sac and hearing fifteen French voices pronouncing squelch (Mirandaesque – squelch, nice word squelch) is wonderful.
We finished by playing the video and the distribution of English confectionary. Six groups of kids ranging from eight to eleven passed through and hopefully left a little wiser to the world of pure imaginative, very British, eccentric, funky silliness. They certainly gamely played along and I’d like to think there’s a place in their hearts for the Hippie and his bag.
I’m already planning on doing it again soon with the addition of percussion and aimed at younger children too…….watch this space!
Now that we’ve climbed the mountain, the mountain will never seem the same again!”
Words and pictures by Ollie Hutchinson
BUY THE VINYL/BOOK FROM OUR SHOP
Cornershop Video Showcase at Cine East & Winterwell Festival Headline 1 July 2012
CORNERSHOP & AMPLE PLAY VIDEO SHOWCASE AT CINE EAST
We have been invited to part in Cine East on 1 July 2012. All our videos from the last year, as well as the artists we are releasing through our label Ample Play, will be shown on a on a big screen at a location in the East End of London.
A longer programme with all the videos from the last three albums will be shown at a location to be confirmed. Please email us at info (at) cornershop.com for for exact screening times & locations.
CINE-EAST: 1000 films, 100 venues, 1 celebratory day of completely free cinema. www.eastendfilmfestival.com
With films for young and old from every corner of the globe, join us as we blanket every cinema, bar, cafe, nook and cranny of london’s East End with documentaries, dramas, animations, live music, talks, film clubs, competitions…. In fact all things film and all this free.
WINTERWELL FESTIVAL HEADLINE
A chance to see ‘What Did the Hippie Have in his Bag?’ performed live. An eclectic range of music, good people and fancy dress is what this festival has always been about, since starting in 2007. Winterwell offers a truly intimate party experience, attracting a discerning and sophisticated crowd of people who prefer ‘glamping’ to camping. With only 1500 guests there is no danger of losing your friends, tent or sanity as is often the case at larger, more chaotic festivals, and the certainty of spending a weekend with like-minded people.
WHERE: Heart of the Cotswolds, a few miles from Cirencester
Headlining Sunday 1 July – WEBSITE: www.winterwell.co.uk
The Sufis LP by The SUFIS
The Sufis longplaying vinyl album by The SUFIS Reviewed By The Active Listener
“Simply put, The Sufi’s self titled debut is so brilliant that I’m fairly certain that I can’t formulate the words to do it justice. I will however give it a go.
Much like fellow Tennessee The Paperhead, the Sufis have an obvious fascination with the English music scene of the mid to late sixties.
Where the Paperhead evoke the sounds of more cult figures like July and the Idle Race, the Sufis seem to have set their sights much higher, and come across like a cross between the Beatles at their most mustachioed and Pink Floyd circa Arnold Layne.
Evocative, but never derivative, they channel their influences into concise and adventurous psychedelic pop tunes, the majority of which could have been hits in 1967 and with a little luck might be now.
Tjinder Singh from Cornershop spotted their promise right away and signed them to his Ample Play label, who are responsible for this attractive vinyl release.
“Sri Sai Flora” is the track which has been serviced to media first, and is a good indicator of what to expect from their full length ; supple McCartneyesque basswork, drums which sound like they’re struggling to catch up ala Ringo and dreamy harmonized vocals with a melody to kill for.
Elsewhere there’s plenty of trippy Rick Wright style organ work, vocals run through oscilators and all manner of vintage sounding studio trickery – all married to perfect lysergic pop tunes, with the odd instrumental freakout thrown in for good measure.
Splendid stuff, and essential for those with a love of that innocent U.K sound that the Americans only now seem to be coming to grips with.”