Sunday, October 21, 2018
Song of the Day # 1,736 The Ropers
Melodic Slumberland Record Label band from the mid-Nineties. This is the opening track from their only album and probably their best song. Creamy, clanging guitars in the school of The Clean and The Dream Syndicate.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Things Found on My Local's Jukebox # 328 White Denim
White Denim's new record Performance got a fair bit of critical acclaim on its release recently. It's not all for me, rather fussy for my tastes but I do like this which went on the jukebox last night.
Papercuts - Parallel Universe Blues
Papercuts sixth album Parallel Universe Blues is an indie record in the most spectacular sense of the word. It's an amalgam of so many features of the genre, incredibly sensitively played, a set of ten gossamer delicate alternative pop songs.
The opening two tracks Mattress On The Floor and Laughing Man are as good an opening pair of songs as I've heard this year on any record. Aping the classic melodic trajectory of Wire's wondrous Outdoor Miner they set the bar high, but the songs that follow, maintain an impeccable poise and beauty.
The reference points are quite clear; listing Velvet Underground, Wire, Spacemen 3, Velocity Girl Primal Scream, Spector, early Cure and Jesus & Mary Chain will probably paint as good a picture as possible of what's being splashed on the canvas here. Priceless teenage emotion and moments, cast in aspic. The fact that this is Jason Quever, (the man behind Papercuts), sixth record is not insignificant. He's utterly mastered the sound and sensibility he's been working towards. It's craftsmanship.
A whiter than white sound. Bleached almost, hooped top and fringe, Chelsea boots, Quever shows a mastery of the sound and attitude that's quite impeccable. The album never lets up. It's a small classic. October has been the richest month of the year in terms of records that have grabbed my interest and Parallel Universe Blues sparkles as remarkably as any among them.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Songs About People # 719 James Dean
Remarkably James Dean appears not to have made an appearance on this series before. So, to make amends, here's a rather eclectic song for him from an Irish singer-songwriter David Keenan (not the music journalist and writer of the same name).
Song(s) of the Day # 1,734 Shogun & the Sheets
Royal Headache, another in a line of fine Australian bands re-igniting the fire of Punk and New Wave, are no more. Apparently their split was somewhat ignominious. But from their ashes rises the phoenix of Shogun & the Sheets. fronted by that band's vocalist Shogun.
And they carry on very much where Royal Headache left off, with this, their debut release. Hold On Kid is blazing. All the desperate fury of The Saints or one of those fabulous offshoot Seventies bands featuring ex-members of The MC5 or Stooges.
Pissing Blood veers more towards Alice Cooper territory. Never particularly my favourite part of the Punk Sea. It's all done with the greatest sense of detail possible though. There's something determinedly archivist going on here. But it has all the full on energy and restless fuel of those great bands, something largely lost in the decades since. On the evidence of this, they'll be well worth watching.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Songs About People # 718 Damian Lovelock
The Moles, on their fine album from 2016 Tonight's Music, tip their hats to Damian Lovelock, former leader of The Celibate Rifles.
Song of the Day # 1,733 PAINT
Allah- Las can do little wrong in my eyes. So it's also good to hear this, from Pedrum Siadatian of that band, making good on the memory of Kevin Ayers.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Songs About People # 717 The Duke of Wellington
Slightly Pearl Jam moment from Rugfire. What it has to do with The Duke of Wellington is anyone's guess.
Sharon Van Etten
We're already at the point where we're looking to the point where albums are being scheduled for release in 2019 and we're starting to get tasters for them. Such is the case with Sharon Van Etten, whose new album Remind Me Tomorrow is due mid-January. Here's a taster, and as you'd expect it tastes good! Slightly muffled in terms of delivery but full of intent and purpose.
Song(s) of the Day # 1,732 Carbon Poppies
That isn't rain you see on her face you fool. It's tears! Classic twang and early sixties echo reborn as twee indiepop decades later on Elefant Records from Carbon Poppies.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Songs Heard on the Radio # 275 Pip Blom
Dutch artist Pip Blom keeps churning out great songs and EPs in a Breeders vein short of putting out a debut album. Here's the latest.
Things Found on My Local's Jukebox # 327 Theatre of Hate
If I had known that this had been on the jukebox for ages, ages ago, I would have played it. Loads. Now I do I intend to. A wonderful record from the time I was just constructing myself around the music and books I liked. Also a British hit single. Incredibly evocative and atmospheric. The clip clop beat is quite purposely reminiscent of galloping hooves. I don't know any other Theatre of Hate songs. I don't need to.
Songs About People # 716 Peter Cook
New from Pete Astor. For Peter Cook and in praise of the fact that he chose to do nothing for much of his life. Because he could!
Song of the Day # 1,731 Jerry Paper
From Jerry Paper's new record. A collaboration with Weyes Blood.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Songs About People # 715 Robert Downey Jr.
No idea what Robert Downey syndrome might be but art project Grimm Grimm have written a highly atmospheric song track it. I assume it's about junior.
The Heart of Rock and Soul # 90 Mickey & Sylvia
On a purely personal note, the song that played when my sister's wedding ceremony was done.
Song(s) of the Day # 1,730 Ben Pirani
There's no lack of impeccable recreation of classic era soul around nowadays for those who seek this stuff out. The Daptone Record label first of all. Home of Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley and many more dedicated to that particular dream.
There are other smaller labels with similar visions. Loveland, Ohio's Colemine Records for example. And from there comes this, How Do I Talk To My Brother, an immaculate album from Ben Pirani, as good a record as you'll hear this year of this abiding instinct and love for Soul purity.
Housed in an artful sleeve, the record sculpts a classic sound, is lovingly crafted, and full of classic, aching soul sentiment. All in all it takes you to a place where it's just wonderful to be.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Songs About People # 714 Janet Planet
Weird instrumental taking the name of Van Morrison's wife and muse for many of his greatest early solo songs.
Thirty Days of Stereolab # 1 Three-Dee Melodie
And from Felt to another group who were greatly under-appreciated during their long career but are now getting some of the kudos that they deserve. As Simon Reynolds said of them, 'Always the same. Always different.' The wonderful Stereolab.
Song of the Day # 1,729 Fanclub
Fanclub, but not of the Teenage variety. Instead a young indie trio from Austin, Texas.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Kikagaku Moyo - Masana Temples
Japanese hippies Kikagaku Moyo are back with a new album Masana Temples released last week. It's more of the same of what anyone who's listened to and appreciated their previous records might expect. Psych, Folk, Kraut and Jap Rock, changing and shifting moods, in turns rocking and contemplative and pastoral.
But there's a gradual refining of their sound going on, and Masana Temples contains a number of career defining moments. The album has received a series of rather lukewarm reviews, at least the ones I've read, but I reckon it's a fine record, containing several tracks that I've returned to again and again over the past week.
Yes sure they're hippies, band photos and press releases attest to this quite blatantly, but frankly labels like this mean next to nothing in 2018. I even saw one reference to John Lydon's 'Never trust a hippie', quote in a negative review of the record. But Lydon himself was an avowed Can aficionado, and this is the band that Kikagaku Moyo take their most obvious cues from. And the influence reaps rewards.
There's also a distinctly utopian feeling to proceedings - as one might expect from hippies I suppose. That's more than welcome in this day and age. Masana Temples keeps up the good work laid down by the bands previous release and more. Never mind the knockers.
Thirty Days of Felt # 30 Ballad of the Band
And to end this series, almost inevitably with this. This has been a breeze, never a chore, an indication of just how many good and great songs Felt had. It's also great to see how proudly Lawrence is still curating their legacy. There's a great interview with him in A Pessimist is Never Disappointed the fabulous blog listed on the right hand side of this page.
Song(s) of the Day # 1,728 Caoilfhionn Rose
A rather lovely, ethereal debut album called Awaken. from a young, Manchester-based singer-songwriter. Released yesterday. It's reminiscent of late Sixties, early Seventies Folk. Vashti Bunyan comes to mind as does Britt Eklund in Whicker Man. But the production is silky and modern and all the while Caoilfhionn's voice floats above proceedings. It's remarkably assured considering this is her first album.
Thirteen songs in all, each of them well-judged, pastoral and frankly just beautiful. Rose is trying something very interesting. It's familiar but fresh at the same time. Give it a listen!
Friday, October 12, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
The Red Telephone
A week ago I posted young Welsh band The Red Telephone's first single. Since then a link and video for their new song has appeared and it's equally fine. Equally veined in late Sixties British Psychedelia with a caustic vocal reminiscent of Luke Haines and The Auteurs in their New Wave prime. Splendid!
Song of the Day # 1,726 Roseblood
First song by a nicely named artist from California. Very Mazzy Star, but nowt wrong with that.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Songs Heard on the Radio # 274 Art Brut
Loud, shouty Pop of an evening coming out of my radio. Just what you want!
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