'Christmas Squirrel' by Kim Boekbinder

You know I mentioned that I was backing 'Instant Minute', the latest Kickstarter from Kim Boekbinder? She'll write a one minute song for every $100 raised and you can commission your own song. So I did and gave Kim two words to work with. Those were 'Christmas' and 'squirrel'.

True to her word, the song has arrived before Christmas so I now have my very own Christmas song.  Kim sent it last night along with the lyrics and here they are. It's lovely!

Dear readers, I give you 'Christmas Squirrel':

Twas the night before Christmas

and all round the world

not a creature was stirring

except for a squirrel

Shivering, quivering, 

fluffing her fur

burying presents 

just meant for her

Acorns and peanuts, 

a crust of old toast

Come Christmas she would be 

the squirrel with the most

She's a Christmas Squirrel

No boy or girl

In this great big world

Has it as good as a Christmas squirrel.

Kim Boekbinder and the Infinite Minute

That there Kim Boekbinder (aka The Impossible Girl) has come up with the daftest idea yet for a Kickstarter campaign - and that's 'daftest' in a totally positive way, obv. She's looking for funding to build a recording studio at her home so she can record her next album (and others after that) and so she's offering to write a one minute song for every $100 raised. And if you pledge $100 you get your very own song to do with as you see fit. If you pledge now, you could even get your very own song in time for Christmas! How's that for an interesting Christmas present for someone? As you'll know, dear Reader, I am a Christmasoholic and the temptation is terrible...

It's the Infinite Minute project and the songs will only ever be available to Kickstarter backers. You don't have to pay $100 of course - you'll be given all the songs even if you just pledge $1 but it gets more interesting as the money pledged increases.

You can read all about it and pledge here and you might want to watch Kim's video about one minute songs in which she performs a one minute song about the project.



Now then, how much do I want my very own Christmas song…?

She Makes War - 'Butterflies'

The new ep from She Makes War is out and she's spent most of the last week crafting handmade packages for her backers through Bandcamp. I know because she's been telling us on Twitter.

I first came across Laura as the bassist for Viv Albertine at the Royal Festival Hall during Yoko Ono's Meltdown festival back in June. She was quite noticeable because she jumped around the stage and got into the music. As bassist, she was also filling some seriously big boots since the original songs were played by people like Mick Jones, Dennis Bovell, Tina Weymouth and Jack Bruce.

I'm going to see She Makes War for the first time as a solo artist on Friday when she supports Kim Boekbinder, aka The Impossible Girl. I shall take money for merch. And I shall take photos.

Here's the video for 'Butterflies' that's just been released....

The Impossible Girl - 'Stellar Alchemist'

The first video from The Impossible Girl (aka Kim Boekbinder) to promote her new album, 'The Sky Is Calling', was released today - 'Stellar Alchemist'. Watch it here:



We see Kim dancing in the raging heart of the Sun as she transforms into the Stellar Alchemist. I'm looking forward to seeing Kim in London for the first time on 30 August.

Kim Boekbinder - 'The Sky Is Calling'

Have you backed Kim Boekbinder's Kickstarter appeal so she can make a record about space? If not, why not? Her first album was 'The Impossible Girl' which had some great songs. If you pledge you get her first single, 'The Sky Is Calling', for free.

Watch the video and then scoot on over to her Kickstarter page to do the pledging thing!