Well...my requests actually. Apologies for letting the blog slip this last week but I've been ridiculously busy. Here's a few tunes rocking my world at the moment:
As ever, my two children are cooler than me in every way but I'm hijacking the rest of this post for 2 songs. 1 for each of my 2 little rays of sunshine on a rainy day.
Ian Brown - Sweet Fantastic
Roy Milton - 'One Zippy Zam (And His Orchestra)'
I hope all the other dads out there had equally lovely gifts from their children.
...not my words but the message that someone posted on the podcast site of www.xlr8r.com
It's in response to a mix from Robag Wruhme and although I wouldn't probably use those words I heartily endorse the sentiment. He's got an ear for a tune has Robert. You can listen to it here. In fact I'd recommend that you do.
It's got to be Bootsy Collins hasn't it? I could listen to him speak all day and listen to his music all night. Somehow, he's turned a naff interview on a cable TV show into something very special. He's also clearly as mad as cheese. He rocks.
Genuinely, I will have cross words with anyone who says that Chris Farlowe is not the greatest ever exponent of blue-eyed soul and if he hadn't absolutely smashed the sixties with hits such as 'Out of Time' (one of the truly great 60s songs in my opinion) or the original 'Handbags and Gladrags' or 'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself' then this song with the equally legendary Albert Lee accompanying him on guitar would have to be my favourite.
- What a horribly long-winded sentence! In a nutshell, this would have been his greatest ever hit but the aforementioned tunes kind of blow it out of the water. It's still a fantastic song though and any lesser singing talent would have given their eye teeth for a recording like this in their back catalogue.
I won't post it here tonight but if you get a chance please do hunt out his version of 'What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?', it's sublime. And if you get a chance to see him live then please do. The man has still got 'it' by the bucketload.
I was listening to an old after party compilation album last night and this was the final track on the CD and what a tune it is too. Superb stuff that brings back so many memories.
I have a bad feeling about this album. It feels like a last will and testament from one of the last great dub-masters and the album is just so good too. Let me explain. I had a bad feeling about Gil Scott-Heron after 'I'm New Here' was released last year. It was his strongest album in years. I had only fairly recently got into G S-H but had greedily consumed his entire works to the point that I a) cursed my stupid ignorance in not finding out about him earlier and b) had become a bit of a G S-H anorak with regards to his music. The album also had an end of days feel to it. It was also deeply personal. I feel exactly like that with this album.
I do hope I'm wrong and I wish Perry many more years of happiness in his retirement in Switzerland. The first thing that struck me when listening to it is that he sounds very old now (he's well into his 70s) and that the more serious songs seem to be Perry imparting words of warning borne from years of seeing his fellow man fuck things up spectacularly. There's always a melancholic feel to dub reggae, something I find strangely reassuring but this seems particularly downbeat. There's an A list supporting cast including Bill Laswell who produced this album and plays bass, Dr Israel, Sly Dunbar and many more (let's not forget Laswell's Ethiopian wife, Gigi on backing vocals) so let's just take as read that the production is first rate.
It was never going to be as dub heavy as, say, a Mad Professor album and in fact it is quite poppy. Tracks such as African Revolution will go down a storm at most parties. It's a shame too that I can't find any lyrics to accompany the songs. I'd love to know what Perry was saying about Prince Charles in 'Scratch Message'. It's nice to see that there's room for humour with 'Dancehall Kung Fu'. It's a great track that sounds like they had a lot of fun making. Halfway through the song Perry announces "I'm Superman". That, you are sir.
Some albums hit you smack in the face, others creep up on you from the side and some albums seduce you with a cheeky nibble on the ear, a glass of expensive rum and a promise of a lift back home, tomorrow morning. Holy Other's new EP 'With U' is definitely in the last category.
This is the work of London-based Ewan Robertson and would not be out of place on a GuMMy†Be▲R! compilation although it's probably too chilled and too slick to be described as Witch House. I'm sure there's a phrase to describe this genre but I'm going to stick with describing it as something on the melodic side of dark dance. I hope you understand what I mean by that. It's out this month on the excellent Tri Angle label. These are a couple of tracks from it.
The name isn't nearly offbeat enough for my liking but the music is divine. Bruce Cawdron of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Beckie Foon from Thee Silver Mt Zion have released their first album for six years as a free stream on Soundcloud.
I'm not sure if I have mentioned this Montreal music collective before but in case you haven't heard of them they are a loose co-operative (or should that be co-operatives) of like-minded musicians who make the most wonderful experimental and post-rock music. I can't just leave it there with that description though as it seriously undersells them. They also play what could loosely be described as modern classical pieces too. They play under a handful of band names and membership is often very fluid. What never wavers though is the quality of their output and this album, 'La Lechuza' is up there with their best in my humble opinion.
All the songs are shorter than usual with the longest coming in at under 7 minutes, making it also one of their more accessible albums too. The first 4 tracks have an oriental feel to them but I'm woefully ignorant of the instruments used (apologies for this) and so could have got it completely wrong. The bridge within this album is 'Trampoline'. A song that starts with a similar feel to the first three but ends with a more western violin and percussion arrangement. The track that stands out for me is 'Snow Day for Lhasa' dedicated to a musician friend of theirs who died of cancer on New Year's Day 2010. They venture into relatively uncharted territories with a singing accompaniment to a traditional orchestral ensemble. It's as delicate as it is rare but never once does it feel twee. The rest of the album has more of a familiar feel to it with instrumental pieces veering between a rainstorm of sound to the gentlest pitter-patter of the lightest shower. The last track also features singing, presumably Beckie Foon and her voice has a compelling quality to it. They may do this for the love of it but they are very very good at what they do and definitely one of my favourite albums of the year so far.
p.s. I've just been listening to 'Snow Day for Lhasa' again and I'm blown away how wonderful this song is.
There's an exhibition in Paris from 17th June showcasing the work of photographer Sophie Bramly during 1981 when she was fortunate enough (or was it prescience?) to capture the exact point in time that hip-hop exploded onto the streets of New York. Anyone who has any interest in dance music will love these photos. The show is at 12MAIL Gallery in Paris but those of us who are unable to get over to see it can see some of the photos online here:
I love that line. It's from Nilsson's 'Everybody's Talking At Me' and it's been very apt today. I woke up feeling hungover and groggy and it wasn't self-induced. I guess I should drink more water before I go to bed. I've also got a bit of a hacking cough and a cold that won't budge and I awoke to a November rainstorm - in June. I really struggle to get up at 6 am in these conditions. Where's my frigging medal?
Luckily retail therapy tends to cheer me up and I had good reason to shop. I'd recently purchased some CD racks to house the overflowing collection that had built up around my living room. Foolishly, I thought space for an extra 800 CDs would have been ample room and then some. Yesterday I sorted out all the ones I didn't previously have room for and have filled both racks - completely filled both racks! Have a look, I think we're going to need a bigger boat.
Ah well, at least I could break my self-imposed ban on buying new music (a ban I have repeatedly flouted, I'm ashamed to say). My first trip for what seems like ages to Rough Trade was good fun and I picked up the following new titles:
Sophie Barker - Seagull [She's a collaborator with Zero 7]
Secret Cities - Strange Hearts
Jim White - Sounds of the American
Dengue Fever - Cannibal Courtship
Trentemoller - Late Night Tales
Lee Scratch Perry - Rise Again
and the following albums that I should have bought ages ago:
Elliott Smith - New Moon
Unklesounds - Edit Music For a Film
I was reading the sleeve-notes to the Elliott Smith album, it's a 2 CD retrospective lovingly compiled by friends who really knew him, and I did well up a bit. It's a very honest account of the man and his music. It does seem odd that I miss him so much when I never ever met him, I only saw him in concert a few times and he's been a long time dead but his music got me through some tough times.
All in all, it's a pretty mixed bag music-wise and I hope to review most of these soon. Let's leave tonight on a happy note. Can it get any better than a 1981 video of Debbie Harry performing 'Call Me' on the Muppet Show? I don't think so.
Ms Hocking is one of my favourite folk singers around at the moment. She released an EP a few months back that was the culmination of 4 years work during which quite a few life-changing events occurred although the whimsical nature of the songs don't really reflect this. She has a real talent for songwriting and a great ear for a tune. These are toe-tappingly catchy and her voice has a crystal-clear quality which all adds up to making this a very good EP. At least an 8 out of 10 from me.
Anyone up for some Sunday evening-type tunes? I've gone for a mix of 'recently' old tunes and some brand new releases. I hope there's something here you like.
DJ Unkle - Final Home (Piano Mix)
Bop - Rovor
Secret Cities - Love Crime [This is from their new album. If you like the Beach Boys - and who doesn't? - then you'll probably like this album too]
Dimbleby and Capper - Beautiful But Boring
Emmy the Great - Iris [This is new out too]
and lastly, Herman Dune - Tell Me Something I Don't Know. [This is the first track on his album released this week.]
Quite by accident I stumbled across this delightful folk-opera by Anais Mitchell with the lovely rumbling Greg Brown playing the role of Hades. I don't know an awful lot more than what the blurb tells us on the video so (and I'm hoping no-one takes offence at this) I'm just going to cut and paste it here:
Hadestown: A folk opera retelling of the story of Orpheous journey to the underworld to save his wife Eurydice, in the setting of a post-apocalyptic depression era America. Rich with archetypal images and elements, and in the context of the current global economic problems (even though it was written years before the Sept 08 banking crisis), it is more Americana than Greek tragedy, although it closely follows this Orpheous story version. The arrangements, the lyrical story creation, and the players, including Greg Brown as Hades in "Why We Build..." and Ani DiFranco as Persephone in Our Lady of the..." are robust, masterful and immaculate. This recording is destined to be considered a Masterpiece amongst musicians and listeners alike.
I hadn't appreciated up til now but Argentina has quite a thriving rock scene. One of the best bands around are Sub who released their lastest album, 'No Desaparecer' earlier this year. They have a classic college rock feel to them, like early REM or American Music Club or even the Gun Club but definitely have their own sound and the fact that they sing in Spanish too helps keep that identity.
I told you bandcamp was good, didn't I? Well, if you're still in doubt let me prove it to you. There's a new album out today from a band I'd never heard of before. They're from Canada, they're called Angerbird and the title is rather lovely - 'Vespa in the Sun'.
It reminds me in part of the Primitives at their most reflective or the Cocteau Twins in their poppier days - or dare I say it, the kind of pop that Paisley and Charlie are doing right now. Does this mean we are going to see a return to the kind of clever, whimsical pop in the charts? Fingers crossed.
Amazingly, the whole album is free too for download so there's no excuse for not giving it a try.
The Danish 4 piece are conquering the world with their brand of electro-pop and release their new album Konkylie this month. I've only heard this track 'Church and Law' from it so far but keep an eye out for a full review right here.
If I take one album on holiday with me this year then it's this one. There's something really chilled about this album that just cries out for sitting on a sun lounger, headphones on and drink in hand - I'm thinking Pastis - it's cool, it's an acquired taste and is best enjoyed slowly, just like this album.
The husband and wife duo of Aaron Coynes and Indra Dunis have returned with a new album, 963 and it's a real corker. It's very dub-laden and bass guitar driven throughout and a droney psychedelic feel that sounds like the Doors at their stoned best. They sound like they've thrown everything into this album with hiss and reverb popping up throughout. It's as if they've had spiritual production from Augustus Pablo, the speed at which this is pitched at but for all the weight of the tunes it still retains an ethereal quality. There's a really catchy tune bubbling under on 'All the Sun That Shines' but it's difficult not to be taken aback at the sheer heaviness of it all. 'Bird of Paradise Dub Version' is just beautiful with an ominous bass line that takes all in its path.
It's not all overdub. 'Key Sparrow' has an other-worldliness to it and some exquisite organ and guitar work to boot. There is one track that is a work in progress for me - 'Summertime' is a difficult tune to get your head round at the beginning but the yawning, druggy guitar sound that kicks in makes this one of the most interesting tracks on the album. You can listen to the album in its entirety on Soundcloud but I'd recommend you get it onto your iPod ready for the holidays.
bandcamp.com is a website specifically for musicians to sell directly to their listening public. It's invaluable for artists and bands that don't have recording contracts as it gives them a worldwide marketplace in a user-friendly way that MySpace just can't match. I like the fact that, unlike MySpace, it is just music and is very easy to negotiate and read (is it just me who finds MySpace just unmanageable at times?) and as an avid music listener it means I can explore new bands in so many different ways.
I've been browsing it tonight and here are just a few of the tunes that I've discovered from it.
I haven't even scratched the surface with this website yet and found loads of great stuff. I could be here all night posting music that I like. Get involved and support your not so local bands!
Robag Wruhme aka Gabor Schablizki has mellowed since his days as one half of the Wighnomy Brothers. He's been busy working on a mix for fellow travellers, Kompakt Records but this month also sees the release on DJ Koze's label, Pampa Records of his new album, Thora Vukk.
Wruhme's music has always had a subtlety especially in the drum patterns and there is a warmth to the sound that he's brought with him from his previous partnership. The album works on several levels and is deceptively clever. As background chill-out music it's just perfect and really is a cut above the usual chill-out Cafe Del Mar output. It's vary catchy too with some real tunes in there to tap your feet to but if you really want to appreciate his art then invest in some quality headphones so that you can best hear all the layers that have been piled onto this paradoxically minimalist album.
There are no weak tracks on here although some of the pieces are only a minute or so long but these act as a sort of crossroad to the next track and compliment the bigger compositions perfectly. The album crackles, fizzles, snaps and pops in a beautiful way. It's definitely been a good month for new music. You can hear the entire album on soundcloud here.
Poor Little Rich Girl by Paisley and Charlie (see also previous blog entries) is precisely the kind of song that no-one seems to make anymore. It's infectious, it's got great lyrics, is unashamedly radio-friendly and hasn't even a hint of auto-tune.
It's not exactly new, having been previously released last year as 'Julia Misbehaves' but has only just been made available as a download with this new moniker. It has a warm and familiar feel to it for me, having my formative years in the 80s and early 90s when the indie charts seemed chocka full of this kind of ethereal pop. With a very English flavour - it's the type of music that really has to be English both in subject matter and in the delivery - fans of the likes of Dubstar or Kirsty MacColl will doubtless enjoy this musical trip down memory lane.
It's available to download for just 69p from Amazon right here.
I've been beavering away at work all morning whilst catching up with some Northern Soul compilations. I've made it my life's mission to really get to grips with northern soul/ rare groove but enough chat, more music:
Bob Seger - Heavy Music
Charles Spurling - Let Me Be A Steppin' Soul
Pat Lewis - No One to Love
Diplomats - Card on the Table [what a tune this is]
I've saved the best until last - Bobby Valentin with 'Lose It Before You Lose It'
