nutty producer - 'midsummer evening'

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It's definitely not summer anymore let alone midsummer however I can't leave this chilled out little number alone tonight without sharing it. It's got a bit of a retro ska vibe to it with a wonderful trumpet interlude. It's the kind of tune that is guaranteed to get you bobbing your head along within seconds.

will oldham - '64 (john peel sessions)'

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Incorrectly introduced on the Peel show as 'Jolly Five' this is from August 2002 and is as bleak as it is beautiful. It pretty much describes a very large part of Oldham's songs and I say that with no intent to denigrate anything that Oldham has done. He's a genius.

chelsea wolfe - 'flatlands'

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Taken from "Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs", it's pencilled in for release on October 16th, 2012.

drowned in sound sunday mixtape

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Here's a lovely mix from those people at Drowned In Sound. Put the kettle on, make yourself a cup of tea and have a listen to this gem.

tim burgess - 'oh no, i love you'

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This is certainly a departure for Tim Burgess with the lyrics written by Kurt Wagner of Lambchop fame and by the sounds of it, a big hand in the music too with a lot of the production being done in Wagner's hometown of Nashville. It has all the hallmarks of a Wagner album but as Burgess has said with the North-West England accent provided with the vocals. Apparently, the deal was struck to work on a collaboration over ten years ago and it's taken this long for both parties to finalise it all.

I've read a fair few reviews and they've swung from outright contempt and plenty of sideswipes at his barnet (n.b. English slang for haircut) to adulation. I think I'm firmly in the 'love it' camp. It's quite dark in places with almost a Cohen-esque path together with female singers and at other times it's firmly on the road to Americana.  Wagner's lyrics are always uplifting even when the music isn't and Burgess's slightly thin voice does work well but I think it's probably a happy coincidence as he does struggle with the higher notes. The highlight for me is the very melancholy 'Tobacco Fields' and the juxtaposition of a Greater Manchester accent and the Deep South references give rise to a thing of beauty.

I've dug out a couple of interesting snippets for you. The first is the official video to 'White' and the second, a remix of the previously mentioned 'Tobacco Fields'.

cave painting - 'so calm (vondelpark remix)'

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With a new album out just last week, things are looking very rosy indeed for Brighton band Cave Painting. There's similarities with the crispness of the first Vampire Weekend album but they also sound a bit like James at their most atmospheric when the songs swoop and soar. I'm giving the album a first listen right now as I type this and I will definitely be putting this on again and again. Here's a remix of track 3 'So Calm'.

the fall - 'lost in music'

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It's Mark E Smith singing 'Lost In Music'. What's not to love?

robag wruhme - 'thora vukk (12" edit)'

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This is just so wonderful. Listening to it clinically, it is so perfect with everything in it that's needed and absolutely no fat on the bone, so to speak yet it still retains soul and passion. It's a rare thing.

dennis wilson - 'forever'

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I saw the Beach Boys last at Wembley Arena. I never thought I'd see a line-up including Wilson, Love, Jardine, Johnston and Marks and they probably will never be on stage together in the UK ever again so I was part of something very special. The gig exceeded all expectations with, I think, every hit played. There was one point in the second half where they played Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice and then Good Vibrations straight after one another. I'm still reeling from how good the gig was and I was fortunate to be in the company of friends who love them as much as I do. The most touching part of the gig were the tributes to Dennis and Carl Wilson and I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for all the band as they have known each other since they were small boys. I know it sounds soppy but it's difficult to describe the emotions as the band played backing over a video of Dennis singing 'Forever'. 

gainsbourg/birkin - 'jane b'

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Taken from the 1969 album with the infamous 'Je T'aime' this is the one with sample from a Chopin prelude. 

schtummcast008

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Thanks to my friend Max for bringing this to my attention, I like this mix a lot.

dance craze (ska documentary 1981)

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I remember this film coming out just as I was in my last year at middle school. It wasn't on for long but it was talked about for ages afterwards with everyone claiming to have seen it 3, 4 or more times (by hiding at the back at the end and waiting for the next screening). I can't actually remember if I saw this at the time or whether I have false memories of going to the Odeon in Worthing but the music has been a lifelong love. It is proof indeed that the English Working-Class was indeed multi-cultural in its musical tastes long before the middle-classes got wind of this. Music in Britain has never got the recognition it deserved in changing attitudes of race. These films are not just snapshots of a novelty music revival, this film reflects our cultural heritage and how music challenged British society's prejudices. 

If I can get personal for a moment, I grew up in a medium-sized town which had few if any people who weren't white. We didn't have inner city ghettos although the hidden poverty of towns such as Worthing is every bit as devastating for those within it. It's no surprise that heroin addiction is so prevalent. I also grew up with racist parents which was bound to affect my impressionable young mind and I too was racist when I was little and it was easy because there was nothing to challenge the stereotypes. Music taught me that life wasn't so black and white (pun intended) and showed me that there was another view and that my parents were so wrong. 

Long live music. 

buena vista social club - 'chan chan'

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I'm in quite a reflective mood tonight and I came across this whilst hunting out something else. I thought that it's just too good not to share.

breton - 'population density'

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From a Faits Divers session, here's a band that have been around for a few years now just bubbling under and I hope will break it big very soon.

andy williams 1927 - 2012

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The great man has passed away today. I don't think anyone who is a fan of music was immune to his voice. He was able to make lounge music sound soulful and something beautiful, that's no mean feat I can tell you. 

kognitif - 'sexybrown'

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I have mentioned Kognitif's album before but just in case you are in any doubt how cool this band is then check this tune out. Sooooo good.

spiritualized - 'shine a light'

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The lyrics are hymn-like in their beauty. I will never tire of listening to this or if I do then please wheel me away for the knacker's yard.

hurray for the riff raff - 'look out mama'

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Fans of Laura Marling will adore this long established Americana band. The lead singer, Alynda Lee Segarra, is the engine underneath the bonnet of the band with a powerful deep South voice that evokes Michelle Shocked at her most determined. She does a mean yokel too. Please do check out the entire session on Youtube here.

mumford and sons - 'whispers in the dark'

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Live in session for New York radio station WFUV, here are Britain's premier folk-rock band with a brand new song.

who's for some northern soul?

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Go on, you know it makes sense. This is one of my favourite Northern Soul songs and my goodness, how hot does Evie Sands look in this video. Stunning.