Song(s) of the Day # 4,117 Cloth

 

Rachael and Paul Swinton are twins. Together they are Cloth. They hail from Scotland.Pink Silence is their third album. On Rock Action Mogwai's record label. So it's not lacking in credibility.

With the massive ubiquity of 6 Music in British Music Culture these days this actually doesn't feel that radical or leftfield. It's a highly approachable record. And that's no criticism. 

It's a record that it pays to perservere with. After seven or eight tracks it takes in an identity and personality that is franly damned persuasive.

It's an insiduous record. Subtle.It's easy listening like someone whispering intimate secrets to you. It's soothing. It feels like a record to get to know and play when the light is fading.   

101 Essential Rock Records # 79 Faust - Faust

 

'breached the farthest boundaries of progressive rock at the time of its release.'

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 477 Cats In Paris - Courtcase 2000

 

'a debut album built on the keystones if matth rock , avant electronica,twee pop  and 8 bit gming soundtracks.' 

And a quite marvellous record too. This countdown is clearly going to be a great journey of discovery for me.

250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 196 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Creedence Clearwater Revival

 

There's something odd about the front cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival. It's almost Creedence before they became Creedence. Echo & The Bunnymen before they became Echo & The Bunnymen on the not disimilarly covered  Crocodiles thirteen years later. Thirteen years later. Things moved faster back in those days. In some ways the Internet seems to have slowed things down radically in musical terms  if anything.

There they stand and stare at the camers lens. Their primary concern perhaps avoiding the draft ti Vietnam. And who could blame them. Also staking their identity as the Greatest Rock & Roll band in America Two short years an that cascade of golden singles and fine albums and they could make a strong claim to that. The beatles thought they must be black when they first hearsd them. A different world from the one we inhabitant. A larger one.. In the next few months they'd be drilled into a fughting battery by Captain John. Standing at the back here. Ironically the youngest in the band.

There's some fine stuff on here. But really Creedence Clearwater Revuval stands in contrast with many debut albums. Crocodiles, Marquee Moon, Murmur. Because this is an album of transition. Of becoming. From the Garage to the Swamp They're not there yet . They're on their way. From San Francusco to the Bayou. Their real home. You can hear it calling here. The call of the hound dog barking It wouldn't take long

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 23 David Essex

 

It Starts With a Birthstone 200 Albums For 2025 # 196 Ball Park Music - Love Life

 

Time for the Melbourne Conveyor Belt again. Ball Park Music a five piece bands. Four guys and a gal. Love Life. An album that's Summer of 1971 Indie. Partridge Family meets, Brady Bunch meets Real Estate meet The Decemberists. Song after song of melodic harmonising and positivity.Rather lovely gentle anthem

There's a song called Please Don't Move To Melbourne which comes on as a Millenial  take on Don't Go Back to Rockville. I know it might sound strange but I believe I'll be coming back to this before too long. 

Song(s) of the Day # 4,116 Subsonic Eye

                       

                             'We sail tonight for Singapore. We're all as mad as hatters here....'

Music of the future . That's what I#m increasingly interested in on It Starts With a Birthstone. Setting sail on oceans new for faraway ports. New destinations. Fresh Experience

I've been to Singapore but it was a long time ago. Almost firty years.  finest Sunsonic Eye release their fifth  album Singapore Dreaming unleashing some chiming feelgood Indie for a Sunday morning. 

The Bandcamp photo for the record is illuminating. Hands clasped on a rusty mesh fence overlooking a gleaming modern highway.

The band have been operating for ten years now. Indie Pop for the masses. There's clearly a bit of a taste for this in South East Asia. See Say Sue Me in South Korea. Bedchamber in Indonesia. The more the merrier !

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 22 Sweet

 

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 478 Alaistair Galbraith - Cry

 

Song(s) of the Day # 4,115 Half Man Half Biscuit

 

Half Man Half Biscuit. The Fall that I understand. I'm by no means a completist but listening to their latest album All Asimov And No Fresh Air, their sixteenth in all I can see where they're coming from to a greater extent than I ever have.

The emphasis with HMHB seems to be growing old happily and well balanced. Maintaining the emphasis of what made them popilar and successful with ordinary alternative types. Keeping fairly informed and contemporary with what's being discussed in contemporary circles., Keeping it positive and light. Maintaining a certain level. Occasionally surpassing themselves and chucking forth a gem. All power to their Scouse Elbows.  National Treasure is a much abused term But Nigel Tufnell is a contender.  

It Starts With a Birthstone 200 Albums For 2025 # 197 MIEN - MIENN

 

Mien - a person's appearance or manner, especilly as an indication of their manner or mood.

We're living in an age of cut and past, Everything is available. First exhibit for the prosecution MIEN.and their near eponymous album. An exercise in Psychedelic exploration in the manner of Stereolan, Broadcadst, Krautrock, Pram and Vanishing Twin. 

MIEN rattles along on familiar but bracing rails like a commuter train carrying a set of workers from the lungs of the city into the urban centre before belching them out  to scurry off towards their offices and workspaces. Their places of study..

This draws on established tropes but I know what I like . This music always speaks to me. I'm happy to endirse its values and efforts. Easter is over. Back to the treadmill.

It Starts With a Birthstone 200 Albums For 2025 # 198 Nadia Reid - Enter Now Brightness

 

Nadia Reid's latest album Enter Now Brightness has a rather uninspiring cover. A picture of the back of Nadia Reid's head. It's a perfectly nice head and the back of it is fine. But it hardly inspires the casual listener to pick the record from the racks and take it home. New records are an investment these days and the cover isn't really that persuasive in encouraging neutral parties to attach themselves to Nadia's narrative rather than going to M&S and getting a pair of jeans instead.

Still 'You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover' as the man says, so I'm giving Enter Now Brightness a listen now. It's not bad at all.  Reid is from New Zealand and is a singer songwriter of an immediately recognisable stripe. Her songs are unembroidered and hail most obviously back to the likes of Joni Mitchell and Jill Saint John. Vashti Bunyan.

She talks and sings about relationships. Friendship and love. How they're like plants and need to be tended. Cared for. As you would the plants in your flat or garden or they can wilt, wither and die.Something to be avoided They're songs crafted and embroidered with poetry, melodic touches and poetry. This is good unadorned work which will appeal to those who have invested previously. Perhaps it lacks the extraordinary to lift it into the essential but it's quality product. 

Best Ever Albums - 2,000 - 1,001 - 1,553 Rihanna - Anti

 

I do not belong in Rihanna's constituency.

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 479 Songs Ohia ; Didn't It Rain

 

Jason Molina. Minimal. Atmospheric Frequently beautiful.

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 21 Babe Ruth

 

It Starts With a Birthstone 200 Albums For 2025 # 199 Gumshoes - Bugs Forever

 

What is it with Gumshoes. They seem to be men with a mission. And a very fine one at that. To release an album at the dawn of each year and drag us forom Post Christmas ennui as we sail forth with no little trepidation. I like the cut of their gib.

And I like Bugs Forever, their latest addition to their slim portfolio. Driven forward out of Birmingham by singer songwriter Sam Sparkes on jolly, well constructed Indie tunes I like their homespun humility amd love their earnest intent.  

The first post of actual new music on It Starts this year. A concept album apparently. With each song exploring the persepctive of life as it appears to a different bug. A Bug's Life. As the man would say. Tremendous. .

It Starts With a Birthstone 200 Albums For 2025 # 200 Samantha Crain - Gumshoe

 Yes, It's that time again. The countown to Christmas begins of albums I've liked and reviewed in 2025. This has no real order, I like all of these to a lesser or greater degree. Here we go !

Waking in a fabulous stone Cornish cottage belonging to the guy who I lived in a corridor opposite forty years vback. Ready for the lessons and then the long journey back to Newcastle. Headphones on at my laptop.

 Samantha Crain's Gumshoe makes a sturdy soundtrack.Somewhere between Sharon V and Big Thief . Fragility and resonance in the voice. Solid walls of etherl sound. That'll do. Time for my shower. 

250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 197 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Safe As Milk

 

I'm based for most of the week now within the confines of my flat teaching online classes. My number of classes are expanding pleasingly and so is the required paperwork. This means I'm at my desk at my laptop most of the week from 9 to 5. 

I like this. I like my classes and I don't even mind the paperwork now I have a clear understanding of what is required. But I need a soundtrack to fend off cabin fever. And increasingly I like to lusten to the same record on repeat for most of the day. Today Safe as Milk.

I'm very taken by thus record. It's not Captain in the woods or in the cave. Much of it is quite approachable. Tuneful, weird, but kind of cuddly and relatable and several tracks of dumbstruck psychedelic wonder and mystery and thrilled ecstatic accelereation. Primitive bur kind of cute. I'm stoll not entirely sure you'd take either the Captain ir any of any of his Magic Band home to meet your mother. 

Song(s) of the Day # 4,115 WITCH

 

Coming towards the end of a week of music loss and looking for something to empower  me uo for a day of full online teaching . This jumped out immediately. The return of WITCH. The Zambian Seventies psychedelic visionaries. The African Can.

And yes, SOGOLO their new record us immediately fantabulous. Slightly scrambled for this early in the morning but completely unapologetic and refreshing. It's a time machine. Wicked witch !!!!

Best Ever Albums - 2,000 - 1,001 - 1,552 Morrissey - You Are The Quarry

 

Oh Morrissey. He's a poor little lamb who has lost hi way. Except this time he's armed. 

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 20 Pete Wingfield

 

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 482 This Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

 

Southern Psychedelic yearning, Not afraid to chime and funk. To emite and reflect. Plenty here that deserves revisiting. Get The Point stood out. 

Song(s) of the Day # 4,114 The Mostar Diving Club

 

Beautiful Forever a charming slice of homespun warmth and cosiness  not a million miles from British Seapower B&S, Beirut or Badly Drawn Boy expanded into a quartet.And theremin is woven in if you're not instantly besotted. 

Guided by Damon Katkhuda who has been working this seam for twenty years and more here. It's incredibly satisfying to unearth suchcrafted toil and humility. The songs are exquisite and the songwriting impeccable . Exquisite. A small pearl. 

Brian Wilson

                                               'I wish that every kiss was never ending...'

You have to take a deep intake of breath when the great ones go. You'd better getter used to it because I suspect we ain't seen nothing yet. But Sly Stone and then Brian Wilson in a couple of days, feels like a bit of a sucker punch ! California Weepin' . Time to pause and put a record on. Then another record. Think about mortality. for a moment. Call up your loved ones . Ask if they're listening to Pet Sounds. Theres A Riot Going On? Thinking about the times they soundtracked and have transcended.' Like waves crashimg on the beach...' 

I'm listening to Pet Sounds. It's coming to the end of Side A now, But I'll  drag the needle back to the start again and listen again. These people made these records to be listened to. So do yourselves a favour.  Really listen to them. Both Brian Wilson and Sly Stone lived lives that were frequently messy and conflicted. The ugly behaviour of both has been very well documented. California Dreaming. But also California Shaking and Quaking. But both produced remarkable art. Poetry in motion. All life is in their records    

250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 198 Hugo Largo - Mettle

 

A record I've been playing repeatedly for a couple of days. Released on January 1st 1989 on Brian Eno's Opal label. Huga Largo were made up of two bassists' a violinist and a vocalist named Mimi Goese. Mettle was their last record before they split. 

I try to listen through to an album in its entirity these days. Mettle I find myself dragging the cartridge back to the start of the side because I feel that I've missed something. Sinuous is an adjective I would use to describe it. It seems subaqeous and this makes for an incredibly liberating listening experience 

Brian Wilson 1942 - 2025

 

'What [the Beach Boys] were doing works on so many levels--naturally and organically," "First of all, you get the catchy songs, and then you hear the wonderful interaction of the instruments and the voices--the wonderful sounds. Then there's the sadness and melancholy. It opens up and up and up from what appears to be a simple song. And that's my goal, really, to make something so many levels." Tim Gane

Neu Klang -The Definitive History of Krautrock # 3 The Shadows

 

        Being a longhair. How looking like a Hippie was a rebellious act in Germany in the 1960s.

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 19 Ace

 

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 483 Basement Jaxx- Rooty

 

Best Ever Albums - 2,000 - 1,001 - 1,553 Eels - Daisies of the Galaxy

 

Song(s) of the Day # 4,113 Caamp

 

Ohio boys making beautiful noise. Copper Changes Colour. A album of raw and tender guitar songs that struck a chord between 6 and 7. Slightly reminiscent of early Kings of Leon but on slighty wiser shoulders.Songs that yearn and emote but are also deeply sincere and heartfelt. 

250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 199 Sly & The Family Stone - Greatest Hits

 

This seems to be a record worth listening to a couple of times the day after Sly died. A huge talent that it's difficult to document in words. Miles hung out with him jealously and vicariously.Prince owes him an incredible amount. The later years are best pushed to one side and remember him as he was. When he and The Family Stone seemed to invent a new rainbow. 

Neu Klang -The Definitive History of Krautrock # 2 Miles Davis

 

Post War Germany seems predominantly a difficult place for the key Krautrock players to breath fresh air. In Irmin Schmidt's words 'Making music has helped me to deal with a certain amount of gief and anger.' Jazz became free jazz and gave a direction to follow. .

101 Essential Rock Records # 78 Genesis - Nursery Cryme

 

I have a lot of time for Gabriel's Genesis. Playing any of their album's seems to carry me back decades to the halls of childhood.It's baroque and excessive often but I'm still drawn.

Best Ever Albums - 2,000 - 1,001 - 1,554 The Thelonious Monk Quartet - Monks Dream

 

Does anybody still read sleevenotes anymore. It's a lost art. I just read the sleevenotes to this. Monk's Dream. While a pan of hot water was heating up on my stove and the record was playing on my record player.

It tells of a world gone by. Life lived at a different pace.Things that are still there. The Five Spot Cafe where Monk and his ensemble punched this out wuth gentle assured vitaity.Authority. Playing for the moment but with eternity surely in mind. 'Eternity said Frankie Lee.' No that was some other cat.'

Sly Stone 1943 - 2025

 

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 482 Keane- Under The Iron Sea

 

Keane have a new record out called Live In Mexico . The thoughtbdoes not appeal to me. There's something rather glum about Keane. Like the Radiohead that was left on the runway unable to take flight and soar above the clouds and eventually towed off to sit bereft for all etenity in a nearby hanger. They make me feel sad. So I didn't last long with  Under The Iron Sea

Song(s) of the Day # 4,112 Suzi Ungerleider

'All of is that came of age. Around that Johnny Thunders stage.'

Wake up little Suzi. I'm waking upon a world that's a poorer place. One that doesn't have Sly Stone in it. That's a big chunk of history ro process..

I've listened to Sly. Now Im listeing to Suzi Ungerleider's Among The Evergreens on the way to my half eight in Dussledorf. It's not Sly Stone . But it is quietly Rock & Roll. Among The Evergreens had me in the palm of its hand within about thirty seconds.. This is exacttly what I go to music for. Characterful Storytelling. 

Divided into' Then' and'Now' which let's face it all our lives are, it sketches out its American narratives of departure, passage and arrival with easeful grace.It's a record to pull up a chair to and appreciate. Ungerleider' has a layered voice and she has a way with melody, attitude and soul.

Drifting between Americana, Folk and the classic Amerucan short story. This is rich and veined reflection and experience in the Suzanne Vega, Ron Sexsmith and Anne Proulx tradition. Like having a meal inwonderful company. Splendid stuff !   

101 Essential Rock Records # 77 The Allman Brothers - At Fillmore East

 

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 18 Al Stewart

 

Neu Klang -The Definitive History of Krautrock # 1

 

An intriguing scene which is now having its stiry told, again and again. Here is an Oral histiry which starts where it has to; with the oddly degrading an insulting name. Then the Nazi legacy from which thuse fabulous and quite distinctive bands emerged and which they came into being to separate themselves from. .No particylar piece of music is mentioned in the furst 25 pages. 

Among the players. Memebrs of Can, Amon Duul, Kraftwerk, Neu! Cluster, Tangerine Dream. And all the others

Searching For Dexys Midnight Runners # 21 Julian Litman - Reminisce Part 2

101 Essential Rock Records # 77 Joni Mitchell - Blue

 

';a programme that consists mostly of downbeat, wholly frank admissions about romantic entanglements that didn't work out.'

Best Ever Albums - 2,000 - 1,001 - 1,555 Silver Jews - American Water

 

Listening to a record is inevitably dictated by it's context. David Berman is a tricky one. American Water is self effacing, wry. Self depreciating. Droll. But there's a tragedy at it's heart and you can feel the man's pain. It's also just a great Indie record. But ultimately you'd file it next to Joy Division, Nick Drake, Big Star and Elliot.

500 Greatest Albums of the 2000's # 483 2 Many DJS - As Heard on Radio Soulwax Part 2

 

I went to see Soulwax with a friend at the turn of the millenium . He was really into them and I confessed they passed me by largely. And stull does though its an interesting pointer to tracks.It all sounds rather a long time ago this mindset.

Song(s) of the Day # 4,111 Bon Iver

 

Bon Iver's latest album the curiously titles album SABLE fABLE seems a return to familiar territory. Deep voiced emotive yelps across a snowy prairie for couples who met and bonded over For Emma all those years ago to strare into each other's eyes as the little ones drift into slumber 

There's an interview in last month's Uncut where this, Justin Vernon's fifth album under  the Bon Iver moniker is described as upbeat. Frankly it doesn't particularly sound so to me. It sounds like same old, same old, but in an impressibve way.It's a powerful record.

Mournful, melancholy, miserble and other synonyms beginning with m. It's never a bad idea to stuck to what you're good at frankly. Vernon's very good at this. Cheer up mate ! It might never happen !  , 

101 Essential Rock Records # 76 Yes -The Yes Album

 

'arty eclecticism.'

250 Albums- An Arbitrary Rumble Through My Record Collection # 200 Aldous Harding - Warm Chris

 

Records trigger associations. Of a time. A place. A person. A moment. With Aldous Harding it wull always be iof seeing her in 2019 . At Cluny 2. A snug, intimate venue. If me smoking a tab and seeing her walking towards me. A phenomenally attractive woman. Quite startlingly so. But also clearly, judging by the inviluntary flunch she made as she met my eye, an astonishingly shy one. 

Our interactuin was brief. I said I hoped she had a wonderful evening. She thanked me twice. Ut will stuck wuth me. As for her records. There's no one like her. They create a world of their own. All you can ask of an artist. 

 

Searching For Dexys Midnight Runners # 20 Nick Gatfield

 

Lazy Days - The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1975 # 17 Richard & Linda Thompson