THIS WEEK: LAISH
Laish are folk rock heroes from Brighton and we think they’re great. Above all – above the dancing folk rock musical interplay, the madcap lyrics and the playful nature of their songs – above all it was Daniel Green’s voice that hooked me good, like a salty sea bass. Voices as rich and engaging as this don’t sprout from the earth daily.

It was their song Carry Me (below) which done jump up and grip me. I cannot stop playing it: it’s become an obsession (not the Calvin Klein kind) that I’m more than happy not to be able to shake off.

Carry Me comes from their cracking new album Obituaries from the ever-fine label that is Folkwit Records. Where do they keep finding all this great music?

Laish sound like a wonderfully cheeky bunch of travelling minstrels moving from town to town – and spreading ramshackle love as affection as they go.

A fine selection of instruments played by great musicians surround the rich voice of Daniel Green. Namely: Emma Gatrill, Patrick Lawrence, Martha Rose and Dan Harding. It’s reaching guys – look at me ma, I’m dancing – ma, I’m dancing!

We at Fresh On The Net openly encourage you to go check out the artists we talk about, buy a tune/album, see a show or simply tell a friend if you like it and share the good word. Thanks for doing that, its much appreciated.

Its a joy to be able to talk about SO MUCH great new music coming from these shores.The level of excellent music that sits outside the mainstream is just amazing, we are very lucky.

Good people of Internet Land, please say hello to the lovely Laish and Prick and Ding 48.

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1. What are you up to at the moment?
Preparation for our UK tour. Mental preparation. Sun dances. Questions like can I drink fizzy beer for nine days in a row? Which t-shirt shall I wear?

2. Favourite childhood memory?
I got a taste for showing off dancing to Billie Jean, aged 5 on a ferry disco on the way to France surrounded by a cheering crowd.

3. Hero?
Leonard Cohen

4. Villain?
Mr Burns

5. Who/what makes you laugh?
My friends are mostly hilarious (deliberately or otherwise). Curb Your Enthusiasm.

6. Describe what you do?
Our band create original experimental folk rock songs.  What I do is a rather unsustainable and all-consuming balancing act of songwriting, band management and day job.

7. Whose hair would you like to have just one day?
Amy Winehouse. Would be a laugh.

8. Best musical experience to date?
Meeting Neil Young stays with me. I was drumming for Laura Marling as a last minute step in and she supported him in the stadiums in Paris and Nantes. I hung around backstage with his band waiting for him to make an appearance, drinking his booze. When I had my chance, I grabbed him and said hi. When I told him I was standing in for Laura Marling’s regular drummer (Marcus Mumford at the time), he looked amazed and said “he had something more important to do than play with Neil Young?”. Well he was mixing the debut Mumford album which made his million so I guess yes he did!

9. What artist inspires you?
Been enjoying Joan Miro recently. Great use of broad strokes and primary colours mixed with a hilarious approach to sexuality.

10. What does Fresh on the net mean to you? 
It is that place I have to look at sometimes to remind me how to do my job. Never minces words. I take all the advice and still no one’s heard of our band…