25 January 2018

belle and sebastian - 'how to solve our human problems (part 2) ep' review

I've listened a few times now to the second part of the Belle and Sebastian "How to Solve Our Human Problems" EPs, a three-part issue. It's an interesting way to publish what would normally be a standard LP and I notice that you can pre-order all 3 EPs as a set if you prefer to look at this as a sort of triple album.

This is the Belle and Sebastian I know and love. Their last album "Girls In Peacetime" was very disappointing, a complete damp squib and I was a little worried that they had run out of steam but the full 2 year gap between that release and these EPs sees them re-energised and sounding great. It's a 5-track affair with them opening very brightly with 'Show Me The Sun'; as rocky and upbeat a B&S song as they've ever done. Next up 'The Same Star' is classic B&S: radio-friendly, charming, slightly melancholy in a smiley way and a very catchy chorus. But then we get to "I'll Be Your Pilot", without doubt the stand-out track on the EP. It's glorious, timeless, quintessentially B&S and a sure cert for any 'Best Of' album. I challenge anyone to listen to this just once and not to get it stuck in your head as an ear-worm. Cornflakes sees them in jangly guitar territory and sounding suspiciously like an old Orange Juice tune. The last track 'A Plague on Other Boys' is by far the weakest and deserves to sit at the end but even that works well as a counter-point and warm down after the previous 4 tracks. 

One thing you can never level at B&S is cynicism in their music. There is always something quite uplifting and hopeful about their outlook and this EP will restore your faith in mankind, even just a little. There are good people in this world. Belle and Sebastian are proof of this.


19 January 2018

get cape wear cape fly - 'adult'

After promising to hang up the GCWCF moniker for good Sam Duckworth has dusted it off for this latest album. This is the first and (almost) title-track from it.


18 January 2018

strand of oaks - 'passing out'

Taken from the upcoming 'Harder Love' a companion album to last year's 'Hard Love'. The bloke doesn't know how to make a duff record, this is superb.


they might be giants - 'i left my body'

This must be the first TMBG album I've listened to in years. Last time I checked up on them they had released an album of children's songs based around the alphabet or somesuch and so I'd written them off. They're back and making grown-up music but as the album title suggests, they still have their tongues metaphorically in their cheeks. This has everything you want from them including their trademark nasally sound. NPR are also streaming their album at the moment and I'd bring to your attention Lake Monsters, which is my favourite on first listen. I can't find a stream for that so instead here is a track from the album that is on Youtube. The link to NPR is below that.



gwenno - 'tir ha mor'

This is the first track from Gwenno's second album, due out in March. Apparently it's a Cornish language album so definitely one for the music geeks.


amanda delara - 'we don't run from anyone'

This is a cracking tune from Norway's Amanda Delara. Short but sweet.


this mortal coil - 'not me'

Here's a blast from the past.


17 January 2018

fifi rong - 'the same road'

Final one from me tonight. This is a wonderfully understated tune.


the green child - 'traveler'

A wonderful trippy synth affair. Their new album from which this is taken is out now.

hussey - 'runner up'

This is a beautiful tune from Nathan Hussey and fits this time of night.


the go! team - 'semicircle song'

I've managed to blag an advance copy of their new album and it is quite superb. It's a return to form as good as their debut album.


shopping - 'the hype'

And this is just the first track on their new album 'The Official Body'. Bloody brilliant.


porches - 'anymore'

This is a top tune from a great new album from Porches.


14 January 2018

the sufis - 'after hours' album review

They've been away for a few years working as producers for other bands but they're back and not lost the knack for infectious 60s-tinged 3-minute pop. In fact, only 2 of the 11 tracks on this album come in at over 3 minutes; the rest are around the 2min 30sec mark. They've toned it down a bit from previous albums; they've lost that carefree Monkees kind of vibe and it's now got more of a Beck feel to things or even Elliott Smith in his happier moments. They've also toned the guitars down and brought a synth/organ sound to the fore which makes things sound heavier. I like this album but that's as far as it goes because there's no real killer track although the title track is solid enough. 

The album can be streamed from those good people at allmusic here: 
https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-sufis-after-hours

12 January 2018

menke - 'moln'

I have friends with excellent taste in music. Very many thanks to @maxcooter for bringing this track from Swedish singer Menke to my attention. It ticks all my musical boxes.


11 January 2018

lowly - 'pommerate'

Have I mentioned before how much I love Lowly?

john martyn - 'head and heart'

It's that time of the evening that I crack out the John Martyn songs.


wildlife - 'dead century'

Love this tune.


sugarcubes - 'i want...'

From the album that changed completely how I thought about music.


alvvays - 'in undertow'

A band that always transport me back to my teens.


nassau - 'risin' sun'

Love it.

gentleman's dub club - 'hotter'

Tune!


dj shadow - 'good news'

Yup!


destroyer - 'saw you at the hospital'

How about this for song-writing?


einar stray orchestra - 'seen you sin'

One of Norway's greatest music exports at the moment. What a band.


lost horizons - 'the engine'

Very nice.


the verve - 'one day'

Ah. A classic.


lana del rey - 'when the world was at war we kept on dancing'

It's not a particularly fashionable view but I like Ms Del Ray. 


christine and the queens - 'jonathan (ft. perfume genius)'

Now this is the good stuff.


pet shop boys - 'numb'

A blast from the past.


we cut corners - 'middle kids'

This is an excellent tune.


tift merritt - 'dusty old man'

Gotta love an up-and-at-'em tune.


emancipator 'time for space'

Just amazing. Mind-blowingly good.


omd - 'ghost star (hagan's opulent end edit)'

Oh yes. Oh yes indeed.


gordi - 'can we work it out'

I think we can, Gordi.


wooden wand - 'mallow t'ward the river'

Perfect winding down music.

legowelt - 'revenge of the nerds'

A lot of synth and techno music going on my website tonight. This is a good thing.


the hacker - 'camisol chimique'

The Hacker proving that he doesn't need Ms Kittin around all the time to make floor-fillers.

hazel english -'other lives'

The great tunes keep coming.

nightmares on wax - 'world inside ft. andrew ashong'

Very nice.


the rails - 'the cally'

Oh tune!


the ballroom thieves - 'sea legs'

I'm a sucker for this kind of folk music.


san fermin - 'cairo'

So good!


angerbird - 'latitudes'

One of my favourite Canadian artists around today.

next stop: horizon - 'where are we heading baby'

This track has a recent retro feel to it. As if it should have been around 10 years ago. Still like it though.


hen greca - 'little helper 266-2 (original mix)'

I love the way this techno tune just builds and builds.


slugabed - 'levitating over my own useless body'

Quite lovely.


cameron avery - 'dance with me'

I think you'll like this.


suzanne vega - 'we of me'

I'll always love everything Suzanne Vega ever does.


the flaming lips - 'nigdy nie (never no)'

Their 2017 album was a great comeback for a band I'd all but written off.


10 January 2018

sumie - 'walk away'

My love affair with Swedish music is renewed afresh with artists like Sumie.

new candys - 'bleeding magenta (reprise)'

Here's a track from last year that's well worth revisiting.

sohn - 'rennen'

I always think SOHN is Scandinavian. It's not just the band name but also the music style. This is a big compliment, by the way. 


05 January 2018

mgmt - 'hand it over'

This is brand new too. Lovely stuff.



first aid kit - 'fireworks'

They're back with a brand new track that brings back memories of 60s love ballads like 'Terry' or 'End of the World'.


04 January 2018

bedouin soundclash - 'trinco dog'

One from the archives.


loma - 'relay runner'

I love the way the guitars drive this track.


lucy dacus - 'night shift'

This will warm you up on the cold January nights. A quite beautiful track.


anna burch - '2 cool 2 care'

This track is right up my street. Sort of 90s jangly indie meets 60s girl group. Lovely. Anna Burch's album is out on  2nd February. One to look out for.


børns - 'god save our young blood (feat. lana del ray)'

Brand new for 2018, here's American singer Børns with special guest star, Lana Del Ray.


gil scott-heron - 'me and the devil'

Let's kick off the year with a monster tune.