I was in a bar last night and the dj played this track.

I'd forgotten how good Fiery Furnaces are.

I promise never to let that happen again.

As an aside, I also quite fancy the singer.

I'll always watch the MTV Awards and The Brits for a bit of a giggle without getting too precious about who actually wins (apart from Fratellis getting best new band at the Brits - wtf?)

However, I can't help getting a bit protective about the Mercury Music Prize as its the one ceremony that rewards interesting and forward-thinking music. I was lucky enough to be at it last year and I was generally quite proud of how it portrayed the state of British music.

Another year and another shortlist. First impressions are that there isn't anything shit on it in my opinion (granted I'm not that familiar with the taken jazz and folkies) but I'm surprised that there's no room for Portishead, Spiritualized, M.I.A and Lightspeed Champion. Especially Portishead who, against the odds, have fashioned a bit of a masterpiece i reckon.

Anyway, out of the one's on offer I like Neon Neon and its a bit nuts that Radiohead have never picked up the prize but my favourite would be Burial who made my no. 1 album of 2007 and sums up what I think the Mercury should be about.

Doubt he'll show up though.

We're too good to you. Really, we are. Here's a sweet new track featuring the stone cold coolest man, ever, ever, the big JH.

Chemical (feat. Josh Homme)

'End Titles… Stories for Film' is a collection of eclectic recordings from UNKLE and various collaborators that were inspired by the moving image in the last two years since 'War Stories' was recorded.. It will be released on 4th August on Surrender All – the all encompassing label/studio/music company co-founded by James Lavelle. The current UNKLE line up comprises of James Lavelle and Pablo Clements. You can even download a podcast all about it from here...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/29/sundaytimes.pressandpublishi...

EMILY - SHOCKING PINKS
THE FUNERAL - BAND OF HORSES
WHALES SING - THE SHAKY HANDS
A MIRACLE - HIDDEN CAMERAS
WHEN COLD AIR GOES TO - RADAR BROS
GAMEGIRL - THE SECRET HANDSHAKE
ACTION & DRAMA- BIS
I DON'T WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU - KID CARPET
THE NEGATIVES - HOOD
NIGHT - BENGA/COKI
ARE YOU REALLY SATISFIED - DAKAR & GRINSER
FOCKER - LATE OF THE PIER
NICOLA'S SONG - ROGER ROBINSON
DISCO SIRENS - MIDFIELD GENERAL
BOYS WANNA BE HER - PEACHES
ROMANTIC DEATH - THE SUN
FRENCH KISS - LIL LOUIS
PLANETS - ORTZROKA
EXCUSE ME - OLI 'N' CLIVE
FIGHT TEST - FLAMING LIPS
SO SO HAPPY - HATCHAM SOCIAL
AT THE HOP - DEVENDRA BANHART
MY OWN POLLUTION - EUGENE FRANCIS JNR
MY OWN POLLUTNO LUCIFER - BRITISH SEA POWER
COME INTO OUR ROOM - CLINIC
WOLVES AT NIGHT - MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA
3 DAYS AWAKE - LYTZ
MULTIPLY - JAMIE LIDELL
EAST WEST CONNECTION - MAGIK JOHNSON
BROKEN HOMES - TRICKY
YOU BELONG - HERCULES & LOVE AFFAI
TO THE MUSIC - COLDER
ROBOT HIGH SCHOOL - MY ROBOT FRIEND
I'M GOOD I'M GONE- LYKKE LI
CLIMB ABOARD - FRIENDLY FIRES

120 Tuesday 29th July

KNICKERBOCKER - FUJIYA & MIYAGI
POST POST MODERN MAN - DEVO
TOWNSHIP FUNK - DJ MUJAVA
BETWEEN US AND THEM - ULRICH SCHNAUSS
DIVINE - SEBASTIEN TELLIER
BABOUL HAIR CUTTIN - AGORIA
TOES - ERRORS
TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS - MOGWAI
EMBRACE THE HATE - HOLY GHOST REVIVAL
I NEED A LIFE - BORN RUFFIANS
SAFARI - THE BREEDERS
VERY VAMPYR THE - TEENAGERS IN TOKYO
ALL YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO - WHITE DENIM
RATTLED BY THE RUSH - PAVEMENT
TOURNAMENT OF THE HEAR - THE WAEKERTHANS
BULLETS - TUNNG
MYRIAD HARBOUR - THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
TAK O TAK - STRICKEN CITY
SALTY EYES - THE MATCHES
STORY PROBLEM - THE ENVY CORPS
FROM A HOTEL 6 - YO LA TENGO
THE RIP - PORTISHEAD
SAPPHIRE EYES - SERENA MANEESH
LOUISIANA - THE WALKMEN
NOW 'TIL 69 - THE SHORTWAVE SET
SHAKE IT TO THE GROUND - RYE RYE
JUMBO - UNDERWORLD
WATER CURSES - ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
DAYVAN COWBOY - BOARDS OF CANADA
BODYCRASH - BUY NOW
PINK SQUARES - I WAS A CUB SCOUT
BETTER THAN PRINCE - FLAIRS
HANDSFREE - SONNY J
NOTHING LIKE THIS - J DILLA

Ooh what a treat. The Futureheads are still my favourite new British band of the last 5 years, I even hearted their second album although not many other people seemed to agree. All those people are clearly wrong. Anyway, here's a very special remix that's making us shimmy across the office floor like idiots. It's from Glaswegian electro pixies Dolby Anol whom you should investigate. Get up, get into it and get involved.

The Futureheads - Radio Heart (Dolby Anol Remix)

We've been back from Benicassim for over a week, so in the spirit of keeping things current here's some inane ramblings about this top notch festival.

First off, if you're unaware it takes place every year in sunny spain about an hour north of Valencia. This year the headliners included Leonard Cohen, My Bloody Valentine and Morrissey. We went last year and I can pretty much say it's team two's favourite festival of the season...

Anyways, we rocked up on Thursday evening and caught up with Battles, Lightspeed Champ, Tricky (who was proper stoned), Hot Chip, Justice and quite a few more - you can see all the Spanish fun in a few weeks on MTV TWO...

Personal highlights include Leonard Cohen, Sigur Ros and Justice as well as some French bird called Yelle.

ttfn

We flew over to Ireland recently to gather live music and interview goodies from one of the most booze and music (that way round) filled weekends on earth- Oxegen festival. Whilst there, new MTV TWO face and Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man frontman Frederick Blood-Royale asked Ian Brown which major monotheistic religion was his favourite and this was the mind-blowing answer he recieved. Hold onto your hats.

***start of interview***

Fred: Christianity, Judaism or Islam?
Ian: They are all the same. Abraham is the father of all religions. Mohammed has been made a prophet, Christians made Jesus a prophet. I was at the wailing wall only a few weeks ago. A Rabbi came up to me and said Can I ask you a question? I said Yeah. He said, ‘Is God in the devils heart?’ He answered his own question and said of course he is because he is everywhere and we have free will. God gives you free will- choose good you get good, choose bad you get bad.
When I got to the wailing wall I thought I was going to feel really out of place, like I am a complete stranger here. It wasn’t like that at all, these guys were buzzing, chatting, talking. I got a lot out of it, and then I went through the muslim quarter.
And then I got to the Christian quarter, due to go in the tomb of jesus, and I was wearing long shorts and there was a guy at the door saying that I wasn’t coming in with those shorts on. So I said, I’m sure I’m not going to get hell fire for ever for two inches of ankle, so the guy said to me ‘take no notice of that guy- he’s just a local kid’.
He shouted this greek priest over- he was like ‘No, no way, rubbish!’ to me like that. So I was like, who the fuck are you talking to. This is outside the tomb of jesus. So he comes at me with this step ladders. So I push him, and he grabs me by the neck and pulls me down by the neck. He had these Cossacks on, these filthy, filthy robes. He was like a big bear, grunting, and all these American tourists are watching, shocked. If he had come at me again I would have punched him, he’s already assaulted me. I wanted to drag him round the back of the tomb of Jesus and stomp him.
I looked around at my friend and he said ‘step back’. Good thinking, let’s get out of here. So it wouldn’t be Christianity, because they are all hypocrites. In the ten commandments it says there shouldn’t be idolatry, and there’s Jesus on a cross- that’s idolatry. They made Jesus God- how’s that? There’s not three gods, there’s only one god innit. It wouldn’t be Christianity.

Fred: One of the other two.
Ian: I don’t believe in any organized religion.

Fred: But you believe in spirituality.
Ian: I believe in God and that’s it. I believe in the prophets. When he comes back he’s gonna shine with a light so bright his enemies are going to run. Do you know there are more mentions of the Mother Mary and Jesus in the Qu’ran than in the Bible? So when all these guys, like Tony Blair and all that start going on about this thing- they’ve gotta understand that a top muslim knows more about Jesus than a top muslim.

***end of interview***

WOW, what a guy.
Ian Brown... gentleman AND a scholar. On behalf of MTV TWO, I salute you for your continuing investigation into civilisation and the heart of man. Godspeed.