Tuesday 30 April 2013

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Lord Creator - Kingston Town

-WEDNESDAY CLUB, it is the week-end 365-


LORD CREATOR - Kingston Town(1970)

How about a little bit of reggae, this ones from the Lord Creator and I believe it is far superior to the more familiar UB40 version. This is the original. What a great vocal by the 'Lord'. The whole vibe of the song gives off that feeling of heat and expectation, its the weekend and you are filled with excitement, no work tomorrow, your going out, maybe you could be a King tonight night and maybe you could find your Queen.

'I think I'm in Love'.

The song brings back vivid memories of when I lived in Jeddah in the eighties. The week-end there started on Wednesday evening and when you went out you could see the atmosphere, you could actually smell the atmosphere, the whole place was just alive and electric. It was a fantastic feeling and I have never experienced it since. Anyone who lived there will tell you this and I am sure they would agree with me. Every time I here the 'Lord's' version it screams of atmosphere and I am back in Jeddah. The week-end starts here.
Me, I the Lord Creator me!

RIGHT ON!


Monday 29 April 2013

GUEST SPOT #60 - The Winchester Club - Britannia Triumphant

This weeks Guest Spot has been kindly submitted by Oliver Harris (@enginebreath) via the submit a guest post link, so if there's a song out there that you wanna share with the world..... click here



The Winchester Club - Britania Triumphant (2008)

Well not many people have heard this great track; I find it encapsulates everything amazing about Post-Rock. I love the mournful E-Bow in it and it builds up to am amazing crescendo then dies out into distressed robot voice territory, before breaking free again.

If you like this I can suggest similar



Check out more of our Guest Spots here now!

Sunday 28 April 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 28/04/13 - Spectrals, Efterklang, OMD, Winterhours, Alice In Chains

Five tracks that filled our windsocks this week!




Old Pa's Corner:-
OMD - 'Stay with Me' (2013)

 

Well if you even wanted a Souvenir of OMD, then this track from their new album English Electric (2013) fits this bill. The synths are there, the melody is there, but it is a quaver or two short of hitting the high spots of their very best album, 1981s  Architecture and Morality. I don't care, I just love it and will be humming this and will be listening to the full album. I can quite happily live in the past. For a little while anyway. 

Sfw:-
Efterklang - 'The Ghost' (2013)

This is a recent release by Efterklang which features on their 2012 album Piramida. This fantastic Danish trio evokes musical memories of folktronica and in particular, Steve Mason and when I first heard it, I instantly liked it.

Flycasual:-
Spectrals - 'Luck Is There To Be Pushed' (2011)



I was victim of a musical ambush this week, it was at Pret a Manger of all places (actually it hasn't been the first time they have ambushed me). So there I was, having a coffee break at work, when this magnificent song comes on over the speakers and completely decimates my 'tune platoon' (the boys in charge of the music dept in my brain of course). I had to find out who/what was responsible for this 'sonic assault' and used my Soundhound app on my phone. I have never heard Spectrals, or the song and I can't believe this gem passed me by. It's dreamy, lovely goodness by West Yorkshire singer/songwriter, Louie Jones, taken from his 2011 debut, Bad Penny. He has subsequently released a new single, 'Milky Way', which you can hear here.....and will be investigating further fo sho'!

Shell Hunter:-
Winterhours - 'Heart Of Gold' (2013)



I was glad to be told that perennial faves of mine, Winterhours (check out previous posts here), have a new single due out tomorrow. But this is no ordinary single! Do you miss those days when we used to buy singles and they used to feature individual artwork on the cover and you had something physical you could look at and hold?  Well their new single 'Heart Of Gold' released on the Saint November label, is the modern answer to the physical single and I love the idea. The picture above was created by Jess Holt inspired by the music and lyrics of Heart Of Gold and I think they got it bang on. When you order the A3 print, you get an immediate digital download of the single, genius! To me, the track is like a musical hug with fabulous harmonies and hints of Fleet Foxes. Order yours now here!

London Scouser:-
Alice In Chains - 'Stone' (2013)
 

In exactly one month from now I will be excitedly waking up and after making my morning black coffee I will be rocking out to the new album from my favourite band of the grunge era. 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here' is the second album released since their reemergence and I can't bloody wait !! I also think that Flycasual's son may well enjoy it as I know he's a fan of good rock and also dinosaurs.

As with their previous release 'Hollow' this track takes me back to the early 90's when they were in their prime. When they next release a greatest hits, I'm gonna demand they call it 'Awesome' cos anything else wouldn't do it justice.

Checkout previous Tracks of the week here
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Friday 26 April 2013

DYLAN COVERS #96 Richie Havens - Just Like a Woman/Boots of Spanish Leather

Richie Havens R.I.P.

RICHIE HAVENS - Just Like a Woman (1967)

It is only fitting that I do a Dylan Covers Post this week and feature the great Richie Havens who sadly passed away earlier this week.

I have chosen his fabulous take of  Just Like a Woman. This is up there with my favourite versions of the song and rivals the many versions by Van Morrison. RH first released the song on his album Mixed Bag (1967).

My second choice comes from the album  Electric Haven(1967).  Producer Alan Douglas overdubbed some some acoustic sessions by RH and released two independent albums of the results. These albums are difficult to find now but an CD taking a selection of these two albums called  My Own Way (2012) was a welcome release.
RICHIE HAVENS - Boots of Spanish Leather (1967)


Wednesday 24 April 2013

WEDNESDAY CLUB - UB40 - One in Ten


Stand Down Margaret



UB40 - One in Ten (1981)

Well it has all died down, now that the funeral of Maggie Thatcher has come and gone. You have to say that she certainly divided the nation and everyone has an opinion on her. It is normally completely for or completely against her.

I don't come into any of these categories, as to be quite honest I am a bit indifferent towards her. I have to admire the way she forced her way to the top in a strictly man's world. It was really quite remarkable. However, I have great sympathy for the miner's and the way whole communities suffered because of her policy's.

Now here is a little story of what happened to me in 1979 and because of MT I could have become a little more well off. I was living in a 2 bed Maisonette which I luckily got through a Housing Society. At the time it was a life saver as I had just got married and had a young kid (Flycasual) and had nowhere to stay. It was a good deal too, as after 5 years you could leave and get a proportion of what you paid in back. The longer you stayed the more you got back.

I was determined to buy my own place and worked like a dog to get the money together. I did any extra shift I could do and begged and borrowed enough for a deposit. I managed to get £6000 together which was quite a sum in these days. After much hard work and pain I manage to get on that ladder. A 3 bedroom semi-detached suburban Mr Jones type of house. I had done it.

Two months later Maggie got in and announced  immediately that she was going to sell off council houses and that also included Housing Society properties. I could have bought the one I had just left,  for yes you guest right £6000. It was immediately worth over £30,000.

Now let me ask all you Maggie haters, how would you feel about her if she was responsible for giving you a large windfall like that.

Would you like to know how I would have felt?

Bloody marvellous!   


Tuesday 23 April 2013

R.I.P. Richie Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013)

The Great Richie Havens

RICHIE HAVENS - Freedom (1969)

I was very sad to hear that Richie Haven passed away Today. I first became aware of Richie Havens when I saw the movie of Woodstock, he absolutely blew me away and I just had to get some of his albums.

His Woodstock appearance proved to be a major turning point in his career. He was the opening act and ended up doing a set that lasted three hours due to several other acts being delayed in reaching the festival. He was called back for many many encores.

Having run out of tunes, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual  'Motherless Chidren' that became "Freedom". This along with his intense guitar style projected him to a wider audience than what he was used to. I was just surprised that he did not achieve superstar status. (Well he did in my eyes and ears!)

The song I choose is 'Freedom' and is featured above.

Richie Havens started off in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village in New York at the same time as a young Bob Dylan entered the scene. It must have been heady days in that area during these times.

I loved his interpretation of Dylan's 'Just Like a Woman' , it is up there with the very very best. His take on George Harrison's 'Here Comes the Sun' I have featured in an earlier post and is still one of my all time favourites.

A sad day indeed but his music will shine on. R.I.P.  Richie Havens.

TUESDAY BLUES!! Pale Seas - Something or Nothing

Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!




Pale Seas - Something or Nothing (2012)

Musical discovery is a good thing.  Take Pale Seas, how I managed to let it pass me by I'll never know.  Pale Seas are a four-piece from Southampton who used to record under the name ‘Netherlands’.  There is certainly something about "Something or Nothing", whether it is its Waltz like tempo, its gorgeous harmonies, swirling guitar or just the xylophone that twinkles under the surface.  Its the sort of song that will feature in your next favourite Indie Movie and fans of Elliott Smith, Pink Floyd and Beach House will be enraptured.

Pale Seas? In my early twenties I went to Turkey and to be a little adventurous, I went on a days sailing trip.  The idea was to stop off at secluded bays, eat, swim, get some rays and to try not to look like Simon Le Bon in the Save a Prayer video.  The locals however, had other things on their minds and always wanted the customers to keep busy.  We slowly drifted into a shallow bay and they came up with the not-so-original game of getting the holiday makers to drop their things into the sea (snorkels, fins, etcs) and encouraged them to dive in, collect the item and come back to the surface.  At the time I considered myself a strong swimmer and I said that "I'd do it".

One of the boat hands, who was probably about 14 years old, jumped in, quickly swam to the bottom, collected the item and brought it back to the surface.  It looked so easy.

The first Brit tried but failed miserably, the second, who was Dutch, looked like he was going to drown and had to be rescued.  After a few more failed attempts it was finally my turn to go.

I was still fairly confident and I climbed on top of the platform, took a couple of deep breaths and prepared to dive in like a fat Tom Daley.

I pierced the water like a kingfisher hunting a fish, but I soon realised that the water was far deeper than I expected.  I kept on kicking my way down down but the pressure was starting to get to me.  Using my last breath I kicked a little further, grabbed the snorkel and started to exhale.  Halfway up I started thinking that this wasn't a good place to be and at that time my ear popped....and I dropped the mask. With no air left I struggled to the surface and emerged spluttering.  My ear was in agony, I didn't have the mask and the local boy was the only one to succeed.  Now everytime I see pale clear seas, I can still see my pride, and the mask at the bottom of the sea!

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Monday 22 April 2013

COVER NERD! - Voice Of The Beehive - 'I Think I Love You'


I like covers etc..... I believe my most avid of followers would know this, if not then welcome aboard the good ship Cover Nerd. And if you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here




Voice Of The Beehive - I Think I Love You (1991)

When the horrific events last Monday of the bombs in Boston first came on the news, I wanted to know why. A few days later the explosion happened in Waco, I was sitting at the dinner table with Old Pa & Ma and Shell Hunter and we wondered if they were A connected & B something relating to the Waco disaster from 1993. They were almost 20 years apart to the day. Thankfully they've caught the guys responsible for Boston and it seems that the incident in Waco was an accident.
Thinking back to 1993 I remember what I was doing when the news came in about the siege in Waco finally being over.
I had fancied a girl at a neighbouring branch of the bank I worked in for a long time and had asked her to go on holiday with me thinking it would be the perfect opportunity to show how cool I was and get her to fall in love me. Unbelievably she agreed, I thought I was well in and I was, right up until the moment my mum was driving us to Gatwick for our flight and asked if she was required to collect us a week later. At this point my heart broke, the (I'm not gonna name her) girl said "No its okay, David (not his real name) is going to collect me" He was supposed to be her ex. They had officially split up and I was trying to become her next boyfriend.
Yes, I once owned this treasured CD single limited edition

Not the best start to a week alone together in Tenerife but I decided to hell with it, I would try and enjoy the sun and beers and worry about girls later. I bought a great book, that contained both Red Dragon & Silence Of The Lambs which I completed that week and listened to most of the 20 C90's I'd brought with me. One of the highlights was the morning stroll to collect an overpriced day old copy of The Sun. This was before t'internet and Sky Sports being available in every small bar. I needed to keep up to date with the footie and that's when I saw the headlines from April 19th.
When the week was over and it was time to leave the hotel at 9am I looked in the fridge and saw I still had 3 bottles of Bud left. Determined not to leave them behind I opened all 3 and proceeded to drink the first one waiting for the lift. No 2 for the lift down and the 3rd for the walk to the waiting bus. Perfect end to a pretty shitty week. Within the year they were married and I had to wait til 2001 before I tracked down my shell, or at least her daughter...
This song brings back some good memories, if only because it was on one of the aforementioned C-90's. Classic trashy pop. I love(d ??) it.... I think.

NERD ALERT! - The drummer in Voice Of The Beehive was none other than Dan Woodgate, AKA Woody from Madness

 And / Or
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Sunday 21 April 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 21/04/13 - Kurt Vile, Queens Of The Stone Age, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Besnard Lakes

Four tracks...that picked up Maggies funeral



Sfw:-
Queens of the Stone Age - My God Is The Sun (2013)


Queens of the Stone Age are back with their no nonsense Rock. This track features on their new album, ...Like Clockwork, which is released in June. ...Like Clockwork sees the welcome return of Dave Grohl (drums) and also features contributions from Trent Reznor, Elton John, Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, Alex Turner, James Lavelle and former QOTSA members Mark Lanegan and Nick Oliveri. RAWK!!

Flycasual:-
Kurt Vile - 'Wakin on a Pretty Day' (2013)


This is an absolutely stunning song from Kurt Vile's equally sensational album, 'Wakin on a Pretty Daze', released earlier this month. It's on heavy rotation at the moment and this, the first single from it is currently my record of the year. It just reminds me of a great few days with the folks in Brighton and the wonderful weather we finally had this weekend. I dismissed him last year, foolishly it seems despite rave reviews and on this performance I will be checking out his back catalogue, to see what I've been missing fo sho'.

What a lucky boy I've been, three incredible albums all in the space of a month, John Grant, Owiny Sigoma Band and now Kurt Vile.

Kurt Vile's website here....

Shell Hunter:-
The Besnard Lakes - 'People Of The Sticks' (2013)


There's nothing more enjoyable than picking up a copy of Metro on the Tube whilst on your way home from London the morning after the night before and the hour long journey seeming like only a few minutes. I was flicking through the music section and saw a mini interview with the lead singer from Bastille saying he was really into The Besnard Lakes at the moment. I had seen the name around quite a lot and the first time I read it, I did a double take as I thought it said The Barenaked Ladies! I decided to give them a whirl and I've been genuinely impressed. Its ideal for the sunny weather and milling around the garden as I did yesterday afternoon. Canadian husband and wife tag team formed the band back in 2003 and now have 4 albums under their belt as well as numerous film scores. On first listen I got dreamy hints of Echobelly or even Mazzy Star and I know I'll be playing new album 'Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO' frequently this summer. 

London Scouser:-
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 'Let The Day Begin' (2013)


I was a big fan of BRMC when they first came on the scene with excellent tracks like 'Spread Your Love' & 'Love Burns' but after their debut album I stopped giving them my full attention. I next saw them pop up in the 'Don't watch with your Granny' film 9 Songs. Fast forward a number of years to 2013 and I was looking on Spotify at their 'What's New' option and I saw that they had a new album out so I thought what they hey, let's give it a try. Immediately I was drawn to the second track. I don't play guitar but I imagine if I did I would enjoy the riffage of this. (sfw please confirm or deny). Initially I wasn't aware that it was a cover (did I mention I like covers ??) I don't know the original or the band whose song it is. I've since found out its by The Call and their lead singer is the dad of BRMC's lead singer. So I guess at least the royalties stay within the family.

Old Pa's Corner :-
Old Pa's is currently on holiday and notoriously doesn't play well away from home. This time round he's struggling with his new Nexus and as a result of being incompetent with new technology, is unable to provide us with a track.


Checkout previous Tracks of the week here
Listen & Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist



Saturday 20 April 2013

GIVE ME A GUITAR!!! - Faith No More - 'Ashes To Ashes / Gentle Art of Making Enemies'

GIVE ME A GUITAR!!! Songs that make you feel like crushing a small cactus with your bare hands!

Happy Record Store Day! Don't forget to support your local shop!



As its Record Store Day today, I'd thought I'd celebrate with a personal memory of a record shop. Keeping in mind I grew up with Old Pa and Flycasual, like well loved hand me down clothes, I always had a plethora of music to listen to. When I got into my 60s and Beach Boys phase when I was 8, Old Pa was there to provide the goods. When I wanted to hear The Beastie Boys, The Pharcyde or NWA, Flycasual was happy to oblige with his collection. It was very rare that I was into something that they hadn't already got so the excitement of buying my very own music was few and far between.


I think everyone should own at least one cape
I was into rock and metal at the time I went to Richmond College and during lunch one day, I walked into Twickenham with a few friends. We stopped of at a tiny record store there (I forget the name and am not sure if its even still there) and after about 30 minutes of enjoyably flicking through artists I was familiar with, I saw a Demo CD single of Faith No More's Ashes To Ashes which I loved and I had to have it! I was also impressed to think it had been used in some radio station somewhere! After our lunch break, we walked back to college and I was practically vibrating with anticipation, I wasn't about to wait until I got home to listen to it. My English Literature lesson was about to begin and the lecturer hadn't shown up yet so I hurriedly put the cd into my discman, threaded my headphones through the inside of my jumper sleeve and leaned my head on my hand placing the earphone into my ear in a comfortable yet casual position. It was the perfect crime! For a whole 55 minutes whilst making notes in the margin of Shakespeare's King Lear, I listened to that demo on repeat. The B side was Gentle Art of Making Enemies which was new to me at the time but is now up there with my faves, they definitely don't make then like that anymore!


Faith No More - 'The Gentle Art of Making Enemies' (1997)

Still feel like kicking a bin over or running really fast? In that case, Have some more GIVE ME A GUITAR!!! posts or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist!



Friday 19 April 2013

DYLAN COVER # 95 Billy Bragg - When the Ship Comes in/Positively 4th Street

The Bard of Barking

 
BILLY BRAGG - When the Ship Comes In

This track I believe comes from a Dylan tribute concert recorded at the Barbican in London on the 26th September 2005. There are DVDs of the venue in circulation and also a CD of the event. I have to say I have not seen it. What I have seen on You Tube looks great. I really must search it out.

The duet between Eliza Carthy and Billy Bragg is excellent. Where it comes from I have no idea?. I have given it a good search but cannot come up with time, date and place. No point in me getting stressed any further. Just sit back relax and enjoy.


Billy has a new album out too for all you new fans.
BILLY BRAGG AND ELIZA CARTHY -  Positively 4th Street

Thursday 18 April 2013

Laurie Anderson - 'Rhumba Club'

Recollection Collection......musical memories recalled with affection!




Laurie Anderson - 'Rhumba Club' (2001)


So here it is, Spring has sprung and I'm off work, oh yeah!! Oh no, I'm off work and stuck inside as I've done my back in and I can hardly move. I don't know how I did it either, that's the thing, probably something as extreme as emptying the dishwasher. Good ol' doc though, he has given me strong as Chuck Norris pain killers and celebrity Valium, but I feel far from a Hollywood A-Lister. On top of it all, it's my Old Ma's 70th birthday get together in Brighton this week and to avoid being the party pooper, I've seriously considered hiring a mobility scooter.

I try and loosen my back up a bit by taking a tour round the block but end up walking like a crap Robocop so I go in and listen to music. Then out of a melancholic playlist, this stunning song comes on by Laurie Anderson. I don't know much about her apart from her being married to Lou Reed and 'Rhumba Club' is the one and only song I have ever heard from her (she's an accomplished musician and artist as it happens). Absolutely mesmerising, I love the constant drone in the background and the instrumentation, on a tragic tale of a dance hall. I can just imagine the people meeting there and the characters she depicts in the song, it just takes you away, beautiful.



You're not coming into the club walking like that pal!


It's a sad song which makes me happy (as SFW mentioned on his TOTW last week) as it reminds me of the time when I first heard it. It was on a Nonesuch Records sampler with so many good artists on it, Ry Cooder, Sun Kil Moon and Wilco to name a few (I must dig it out) and I had just moved in with my girlfriend (now wife). Ahhh young love, exciting and happy times, sharing the bills, your own drawer, having to remember to put the toilet seat down and and turning the tap on in the bathroom when you're doing number two's!

Bizarrely, 'Rhumba Club' didn't make the cut for Laurie Anderson's 2001 album, 'Life on a String' and was actually released on a bonus CD accompanying the album. Wha!? That suggests to me the album must be amazing, weird how some songs just strike a chord....



Have a listen to some of my favourite tracks on my Spotify playlist below or click here to read some more posts.


Wednesday 17 April 2013

WEDNESDAY CLUB - James Hunter - 'People Gonna Talk'

Hospital Stories Part 3 of 3

People Gonna Talk!

 

JAMES HUNTER - People Gonna Talk (2006)

I was into James Hunter at the time,  it was also the time of the World Cup in Germany.

I had just recovered from a foot operation but had picked up and infection, my foot was swelling and I felt pretty bad so I went to the local doctor. She looked at my foot and sent me to the nurse who put a dressing on my foot. My wife was coming over from Spain a few days later on a Friday, I had trouble even driving to meet her. She had to drive back from the airport for me as I was not in too good shape.

We went to see the Nurse that night and when she removed the bandage it was just like Mt Vesuvius, yellow and green puss poured all over her and on to the floor, I have never seen anything like it, the poor nurse was in shock. She called the doctor over and I was sent to the Hospital immediately, apparently I could have died of Septicaemia.

I was put in a ward and it was so unnerving, people moaning, people shitting themselves, the smell, the noise. God! What it must be like to be put in prison in Venezuela!

I promise to be a good boy!

The guy opposite me was old and moaned all the time and when his daughters came to see him, he did not recognise them. They tried to feed him but behaved like a spoiled kid, it was heartbreaking to see. I even thought about going over in the night and smothering him, it seemed like the best option all round.

I don't want to get old!

Two beds down was a guy who shat, in the bed, all the time. The smell! The stink!

I don't want to get old!

I phoned the Private Insurance Company on the Monday, they said they could arrange a private room almost immediately.

(The girl on the phone said ' By the way did you know?  you get £100 a day if you stay in the public ward') .

Wow! £100 a night, I have already suffered 3 nights and my operation to clean up the infection was the next day. Lets go for it!

Seven days later.

The guy opposite died, as did the guy who shat all the time. I experienced another guy next to me who was stabbed on a Saturday night fight, he had also just broke up with his girlfriend. It was like being on the Jeremy Kyle show.

It was the following Friday and the specialist said he had good news, I could go home!.

'But, but you don't understand?  I want to stay!  I am on £100 per night! another weekend would be £1000.

The following week my M.O.T. was due! It cost me £703:11. Well it cost me £3:11.

Sometime it pays to be sick??

More hospital stories? or
The sickest of the sickest, come to the Wednesday Club Ward...

Tuesday 16 April 2013

TUESDAY BLUES!! The Smiths - Asleep

Do you like Singer/Songwriters (or grumpy bands), or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!


The Smiths - Asleep
My wife & I recently watched The Perks of Being A Wallflower, but before you get scared off at another coming of age film, this one is very good! It also has a wonderful soundtrack which was put together by Alexandra Patsavas, whose soundtrack/music supervision input has been on over 60 films & TV series.  Apart from job envy, the use of the Smiths 'Asleep' in Wallflower encouraged me to listen again to the genius of Manchesters finest.


Asleep also reminded me of the lack of sleep that I got when I first met my wife.  But before you start thinking about 50 shades of grey, I am referring to the lack of sleep due to my wifes dog.  When we first met, she said she had a dog but said it didn't sleep in the bedroom.  However when I first started staying at her house, the dog would cry all night outside the door.  At first I thought it was trying to protect her from my advances.  However, the whining was constant and intolerable.  It was like having a unhappy new born baby crying for attention and after 2-3 hours of 'ignoring' the pooch, she ended up locking the dog in the car! The next evening it was the same, but this time we gave in and the dog jumped on the bed and it immediately lay in-between us.  If I tried to get a little amorous the dog would growl to discourage me.  After a couple of days, the missus came clean, the dog clearly stayed on the bed with her and I'd have to deal with it! Seven years later, the dog still sleeps on the bed but thankfully I've been promoted to Master of the house and so the growls are slightly less!

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Monday 15 April 2013

GUEST SPOT #59 - Other Lives - 'The Partisan'


This weeks Guest Spot has been kindly submitted by natcwilson which features the excellent Other Lives covering the wonderful Leonard Cohen



Other Lives - The Partisan

I saw Other Lives last summer at Village Underground in Shoreditch (awesome venue).

They played this cover of Leonard Cohen's The Partisan and I think it could be my favourite ever cover. Their style is perfect for covering Cohen tracks, and dare I say (please don't hate me) I think it's better than the original. Unfortunately I couldn't find a video from the night, but this is close enough.

I also have to admit I felt pretty cool and hip being the only person in the crowd who recognised the song and sang along. That's quite sad isn't it.

Anyway, enjoy! :)


Sunday 14 April 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 14/04/13 - Tricky, Houses, Noah and the Whale, June Tabor, Iain Ballamy and Huw Warren, Jakwob

Five tracks this week that most definitely weren't for turning...



Flycasual:-
Tricky - 'Nothing's Changed' (2013)


Bristol's finest and one of the standard bearers of UK dance music is back after a 3 year hiatus, someone give him the freedom to the city. The brilliantly sombre, 'Nothing's Changed', is taken from the forthcoming album 'False Idols' out in May. According to Tricky, he has been lost for years and in retrospect, hasn't been happy with some of his previous work. He's now owns his own record label and has been able to do what he has wanted to do, claiming that this record contains some of the strongest material since his seminal debut, Maxinquaye. I've been a big fan of Tricky and yes some of his stuff may have been a bit hit and miss but I have enjoyed the majority of his stuff, he'll have my custom fo sho'.
Shell Hunter:-
Jakwob - 'Fade ft. Maiday' (2013)


Due to the fact I have done nothing but live and breathe Steve Mason for the last few weeks, I haven't devoted any of my time to anything else (the gig at Village Underground was amazing, full review to follow). Whilst vegging out on the sofa watching weekly TV magazine Sunday Brunch with great partnership Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer, one of the songs on their playlist caught not only my ear but my eye. The beat is again reminiscent of the 90's and very similar to other dance faves of mine, Kosheen. The piano hook and heartfelt vocals from singer/songwriter Maiday woke me from my catatonic lazy stupor. After looking into who Jakwob was I discovered it stands for James Edward Jacob who is British music producer and DJ. He's been in the music biz since he was about 10 and his style has been "transcending all genres" which is right up my alley.

London Scouser:-
Noah and the Whale - 'There Will Come A Time' (2013)


I know it was catchy and that's not always a good thing but I really liked L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. when it was released a couple of years back. The band from Twickenham have now released a couple of albums which have had regular airplay on my headphones. They have a new album out soon and this is the first release off of it. Once again they have produced a great pop song, with a nice electro backing and good sing along lyrics.

Old Pa's Corner :-
June Tabor, Iain Ballamy & Huw Warren - 'The Lads in their Hundreds' (2013)


This is a track from the album Quercus (2013) it is a collaberation between June Tabor, Iain Ballamy & Huw Warren and is an utterly gorgeous piece of music. If this does not get the chicken skin going then nothing will. The Lads in their Hundreds is an adaptation of a poem about the lads who fought and died in the first World War.

It is a sad reflection of the tragedy of War and loss of life.

There is some really tasty Sax by Iain Ballamy and excellent piano playing by Huw Warren which complement  June Tabor's voice. A beautiful recording all round.  

Sfw:-
Houses - Beginnings (2013)


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Melancholic, indie pop from Chicago based Houses, this track features on their new album, A Quiet Darkness, which is released on Downtown Records. #sadmusicthatmakesyouhappy





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Friday 12 April 2013

DYLAN COVER # 94 - Stephen Inglis - Like a Rolling Stone/Boots of Spanish Leather

Slacking Style

 
STEPHEN INGLIS & FRIENDS - Like a Rolling Stone (Live)

This is taken from a concert featuring some talented Hawaiian musicians for the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival in 2012. It includes Patty, the first lady of steel guitar, he met het that day at the super market. Brilliant!. This is great stuff! Fabulous. Pattys my girl,

Stephen did some Dylan tracks from his excellent album Slakin on Dylan (2010). It is a must hear album . It 2010 it won the Folk Category in the fan voted Hawaii Music Awards. So therefore it must be good.

I had a hard job choosing a track from the album but I went for his take on Boots of Spanish Leather which showcases Stephen's fabulous guitar style. 
STEPHEN INGLIS - Boots of Spanish Leather(2010

If you are unaware of Stephen Inglis then this will be a treat, the boy can slack key the guitar big time.

Thursday 11 April 2013

Owiny Sigoma Band - 'Magret Aloor' / 'Nyiduonge Drums'


Owiny Sigoma Band - 'Magret Aloor' (2013)

Jambo! This fantastic track is taken from the Nairobi/London Owiny Sigoma Band's latest album, Power Punch, released last week. They continue on from their impressive 2011 self-titled debut, with their blend of Afro psychedelia but the soundclash of traditional Kenyan music with electro, rock and dub is more assured, a band confident with their sound as the title suggests. Power Punch is a brilliant and innovative record, that's two contenders for album of the year in the space of a week for me (John Grant's 'Pale Green Ghosts' being the other). The perfect soundtrack to sizzling your sausages on a BBQ this summer or sizzling yourself on a sunbed sipping a cheeky cocktail.

Read about them on a previous post here, performing a live version of their excellent 2011 track 'Wires'.



On the subject of Kenya, I have danced with the mighty Masai warriors. Unfortunately it wasn't a victory dance, accepting me into the tribe as one of their own, after a successful hunt and kill on the plains of the Serengeti. It was more an embarrassingly feeble jig after being reluctantly hauled up on stage at the hotel's evening entertainment whilst holidaying in Mombasa. I hate all that participation nonsense and I was sure I positioned myself strategically so that I would not be found, but the expert hunters found their prey alright.

Hmmm where were the Owiny Sigoma Band back then! If you didn't move to 'Magret Aloor' then this will have you mashing up the dancefloor, 'Nyiduonge Drums' is the 'B' side to their first single taken from Power Punch, 'Owiny Techno'.


Owiny Sigoma Band - 'Nyiduonge Drums' (2013)



Grab your copy of their album at Brownswood Recordings.

Have a listen/subscribe to TuneDr's World Music Corner Spotify playlist below or have a look at some other WMC posts here..


Wednesday 10 April 2013

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Byrds/Woody Guthrie - Pretty Boy Floyd

HOSPITAL STORIES PT 2 of 3
Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name

 
THE BYRDS - Pretty Boy Floyd (1968)

I went to A&E,  I was in pain with my foot. They immediately took me to a ward. Luckily I was given an end bed and it backed on to a grassy area. I had an emergency number to call as I had medical Insurance with my company. They arranged a private room for me the next day.

The on duty consultant said he would arrange a friend of his who was one of the leading foot surgeons in the country to deal with my case. He came in especially, I was treated like royalty. I was later discharged and had to come back for an operation a week later.

When I came back for the operation the first specialist just happened to pass my door and popped his head in to wish me good luck. What a nice guy I thought.

The operation was a success but it took a little while for me to walk properly. My wife was in Spain at the time so I took full advantage of the time off and getting a certificate when its an Insurance claim was not a big problem.

When I got the copy of the statement for the treatment, I was shocked to see that the original specialist had claimed for first seeing me. Fair enough.  Then he claimed again when he brought in the foot specialist, although, he did not stay more than a minute. He then made a further claim for consultation when he popped his head in to say good luck. His claims were about £500 and he did not actually do anything other than arrange his friend to come.

I also saw a  further consultant after the operation and was in his room twice for  not more than a couple of minutes each time. He was more interested in my home town of Inverness (as he was going to Scotland on holiday) than looking at my foot. Two more claims at a £150 a time. (four minutes 300 quid).

Our poor footballing heros are being short changed.

Some will rob you with a six gun, some with a fountain pen      

The words of Wood Guthrie, screamed.

What a classic by the Byrds from their album Sweet Heart of the Rodeo. It does not get too much better than this When this came out in 1968, I was blown, blown away.  Gram Parsons had joined the Byrds for a short time and his Country influence shined through. If ever there was an album that you could describe as Country Rock, then look no further than Sweet Heart of the Rodeo. It is, and still is, a breath of fresh air


Here is the the original by Woody himself.

 
WOODY GUTHRIE - Pretty Boy Floyd

More hospital stories?

Tuesday 9 April 2013

TUESDAY BLUES!! Andrew Bird - Lusitania

Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!




Andrew Bird - Lusitania (featuring Annie Clarke)
This track on Andrew Birds excellent album, Break it Yourself, features St Vincent's Annie Clarke. The Lusitania was a British ocean liner and this got me reminiscing about my own ocean going adventures which thankfully didn't involve any sinking, apart from a few pints.

A few years ago we took our parents on a cruise to Caribbean.  A family holiday can be a testing time for relationships and even more so when you have two sets of parents and even more so again when they've never really met.  "But what if they don't get on?" "Don't worry it's a big ship, we can separate them if need be"

As it turned out they got on really well and were pretty inseparable all holiday.  They'd meet for meals, drinks and port walks, often forgetting to include us.  We'd been concerned that me & the wife wouldn't get any time alone, but by the end of the holiday were feeling a little left out, especially when we discovered that they'd been enjoying an additional meal sitting each day which my wife and I didn't know about - there was an early evening sitting in addition to the main evening meals - and our parents had been going to both!

Overall, a great holiday was had by all and cruise stories are still exchanged at any family gatherings, some of which the wife & I are only now discovering - gambling in casinos, smuggling booze on board, making friends with the locals, Gun shots in Caracas and almost missing the ship!



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Monday 8 April 2013

COVER NERD! - Foo Fighters - 'Drive Me Wild'


By now you may have noticed I love a good cover, and this time I get to feature one of my favourite bands, so it's a win-win. If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here



Foo Fighters - Drive Me Wild (1997)

When I was still at school I begged my parents to let me get a paper round cos I wanted to earn some money. There were so many records I wanted to buy and also games for my amazingly sophisticated super computer (ZX Spectrum +). But being the dopey accident prone kid I was there was no way they would let me go out that early. Eventually they came to a compromise and I was allowed to deliver a free paper, The Hounslow Recorder. I had to deliver it to two nearby streets, a total of 210 papers, and my fee for this ??? A paltry 1p per paper... I'm sure that was discrimination, but initially I was ecstatic.
After a few weeks however the novelty was slowly wearing off and I couldn't be arsed lugging that much weight around for such little return. In hindsight I should have thought of a better plan for dumping them, perhaps in the wasteland next to where we lived or something similar. But no, I went for the lazy/stupid option of "hiding" them in our shed. This worked perfectly for 3 weeks until my mum decided to go into the shed, I mean how dare she. That was my hiding place.
After receiving my punishment, which was to have my TV confiscated for a month, I also had to continue delivering the papers. The only difference being that my mum now drove me to the streets and helped me deliver half of them. Not so bad in the end methinks.

Does my grin drive you wild baby ??

What has this got to do with the song I hear you ask, well I'm getting there.
My brother worked for an air freight company and they used shredded newspaper to help with the packaging of certain items, he spoke to his boss and took 630 papers off my hands. I got £10.00 for the papers too, so in the end I came out financially on top !!!
My brothers boss was a pretty flamboyant guy, always bragging about his expensive cars and the like. He was big into his music and made a C90 tape for my brother with Mel & Kim's 'FLM' on one side and Vanity Six's self titled album on the other. I remember listening to the album and loving the naughty lyrics on some of the tracks. I still have the cassette, but unfortunately I don't possess a tape player anymore !!

I first heard the Foo Fighters version on a compilation CD called 'Sound As A Pound' on Parlophone records. Instantly loving it, I've since found out it was recorded in the same session that they did Baker Street in at BBC Maida Vale Studios in 1997 which is possibly one my favourite all time covers.

NERD ALERT! - Dave Grohl performed all instruments for their debut album, then formed the band in order to tour.


Unfortunately, I can't find a version of it on Spotify, but you can still subscribe to my Spotify playlist by clicking here

Sunday 7 April 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 07/04/13 - John Grant, Black Books, Farewell JR, Primal Scream, Low

Kim Jung Un, you're getting on our Pyongyang's! Relax! Just everybody meet up and sort it with a karaoke showdown with these 5 love missiles.




Shell Hunter:-
Primal Scream - 'It's Alright, It's OK' (2013)



I couldn't believe it, yesterday I drove home after a horrid day at work and the sun was shining! I could feel the heat in the car and even though I was trying desperately not to drift onto the rummblestrips (a hazard often fought against when driving home after getting up at 03:45 am) I was smiling! This song is what you would get if summer was bottled and what you would find in the dictionary as a description of Primal Scream: A feel good beat, gospel choir backing and sing a long lyrics! Perfect for the 90's indie revival we seem to be having!

London Scouser:-
Black Books - 'Favorite Place' (2013


Despite the Arctic conditions we seem to be having this week I was actually happy to be blown away. I stumbled across this Texan 5 piece band and their Aquarena EP. Since then I've probably listened to the 4 tracks about 10 times each. They are all winners and it was difficult to choose 1 and disappoint the other 3 !! I chose this track because it instantly hooked me, and like a good book I couldn't put it down. The chorus of 'I couldn't breathe, you're exceptional' sticks in my mind for hours afterwards (in a good way !!) I almost forgot to mention the excellent video that accompanies the song, all I can say is that it must have taken a long time to make. They have been favourably compared to a few bands, amongst them Arcade Fire, which I definitely get, but also for me they sound like Embrace, especially on the track 'For All The People'. I for one was a huge fan of Embrace so I can't complain at that. They will be over this side of the pond in May supporting The Flaming Lips. I definitely don't want to miss them, that's how much they've impressed me.

Old Pa's Corner:-
Low - Plastic Cup (2013)


 

This is the first track on Low's new album The Invisible Way (2013) it is typical Low, a slow understated burner which will creep up on you and pounce. I have been listening to the album this week quite a lot and it is worth the effort.  The album is being described as 'Heartbreaking beautiful music'  Spot on, I agree

The album was produced by Jeff Tweedy and recorded at Wilco's studio too.

SFW:-
Farewell JR - Night Wolves

Great atmospheric track by, (fans of Larry Hagman), Farewell JR, which features on their recently released, Health EP. It's still a bit cold to lie down on the floor to stare at the stars, but I'd do it anyway for this.  Would be great on a soundtrack. Perfection.

Flycasual:-
John Grant - 'Black Belt' (2013)



I had the pleasure of listening to John Grant's album, 'Pale Green Ghosts', whilst painting my son's room last week, I hate DIY but when I finished before the album ended, I desperately tried to find something else to paint. The man who played with Midlake and gave us the Rock/Folk ballad about the woman who made me the man I am today, 'Sigourney Weaver' (I'm an Aliens fan), has made an incredible electronic album. It's as if the best bits of Rufus Wainwright, LCD Soundsytem and Vangelis have all been put into a musical blender and produced a tasty disco biscuit of a record. It's a collection of heartfelt songs of love, loss and personal tragedy beautifully sung with wit and humour. including some very memorable lines, which, at times, had me saying 'ooof' while shaking my head to the visually descriptive lyrics. The brilliant 'Black Belt' is one of my tracks of the year from, hands down, my favourite album of the year so far.

John Grant's website


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Saturday 6 April 2013

The Beta Band - 'Dry the Rain'

Saturday Night Jukebox.......
Everyone Has A Guilty Pleasure

We're fully prepared to take on the hoard of Brownies



The Beta Band - 'Dry The Rain' (1997)

I've been getting all excited about seeing Steve Mason next week and have been listening to all the Beta Band albums, King Biscuit Time, Black Affair and of course his awesome solo stuff. There is one track that I keep coming back to and don't mind playing over and over. Dry The Rain is one epic song that I think is right up there in my Top Ten, maybe in my Top Five! I don't know what it is about the song or melody but I find it sad but uplifting at the same time.


Bizarrely when I listen to it, towards the end when they go into the repeats of 'it'll be okay" etc, apart from the goosebumps, I get reminded of back when I was in the Girl Scouts (of the USA no less) when growing up in Saudi. We had an annual 'Camp Out' at what seemed like an American army base but I found out was actually a geologicial laboratory called USGS, which I remember was miles out in the desert. Bang smack in the middle of the base was a massive football field set down in a sort of dug out. There was the most beautiful freshly mowed bright green grass where we would pitch our tents. During the day, us senior girls would do artsy fartsy crafts and games which we would have to make up to entertain the Brownies for the day. I decided I would teach them how to catch grass hoppers. I was more of an outdoorsy Tom Boy back then!

In the evening, it was a good old fashion sing song around the camp fire and I remember being extremely impressed when we would do songs with a "round" in them. A round (in case you don't know and according to Wiki) is a musical composition in which two or more voices sing exactly the same melody (and may continue repeating it indefinitely), but with each voice beginning at different times so that different parts of the melody coincide in the different voices, but nevertheless fit harmoniously together.
 One of the volunteers who was a music teacher would teach us how to do it and it would be a mess at first, but when it got going it was great, much like the bit at the end of Dry The Rain. The music teacher would also try and burst in with a harmony as they do. Strange what you remember!


As if you needed anymore proof this song was awesome, have a look below!




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Friday 5 April 2013

DYLAN COVERS #93 Steel Pulse - George Jackson/Matumbi - The Man in Me


Nice pose, shame about the Hair

 
STEEL PULSE - George Jackson (2004)

Lets have some more Dylan Reggae covers. This time I am featuring two British bands. The first is by Steel Pulse and this cover of George Jackson was on their album African Holocaust (2004). It also featured another song (not by Dylan) about George Jackson.

I remember buying the single in 1972 and was quite excited at the time that Dylan seemed to have got back some of the fire that we had not heard for a very long time. For thoses who do not know the single release contained two versions of the song, the acoustic version and the Big Band version.

Many Roads to Cross

 
MATUMBI - The Man in Me (1976)

Matumbi's version of  The Man in Me was the biggest-selling UK reggae single in 1976. So what about that then?

Thursday 4 April 2013

Brother Ali - 'Begin Here'

YO! TUNEDR RAPS

A hint of sun and it's windows down blasting fresh joints in my Peugeot family saloon...Yes Yes Y'all!!



Brother Ali - 'Begin Here' (2009)

This is perfect Hip Hop for the wee small hours. Sometimes it's just nice to listen to a retrospective playlist on random, as I did the other day, not only do you not know what you are going to get but it could unearth old gems like Brother Ali's 'Begin Here'. I was into the American rapper at the time, particularly the EP, 'The Truth is Here', which closes with this track...a fitting end to a fantastic album.

Brother Ali is known for his old skool style flow, something which made me a fan of his in the first place but for me it's his producer Ant (one half of underground Rap group, Atmosphere) that creates a really slick track with the beat and that sublime piano loop. I love the Piano and I love Hip Hop...win win!

I could probably even safely slip it in on a 'dinner with the in-laws' playlist between Sinatra and Matt Monroe but I don't how much street cred that would give myself or indeed Brother Ali. Which is all perhaps a little irrelevant for me these days, being middle aged (almost) and living in my little nondescript suburban cul de sac in Surrey, with Doris the sweet old lady next door and that miserable old bastard across the road unlikely to care.

Brother Ali released his latest album, 'Mourning in America and Dreaming in Colour', last September.

Brother Ali, a fan of ZZ Top...maybe?
www.brotherali.com