Well I had to do it after all the fuss and to do of last week. So here we have three versions of Ronnie Wood doing his thing on, as he says himself, the song that Bob gave him. Well it is there for all to see and hear and from the horses mouth.
Unless any of you Dylantholigist know any better!!
RONNIE WOOD - 7 Days(studio 1979)
Above is the studio version that Ron didand was on his 1979 album Gimme Some Neck, his third solo album.
RONNIE WOOD - 7 Days(Live 1992)
Finally we have the brilliant version he did at the 1992, 30th Anniversary Concert for Mr D . I reckon this is my favourite version of the three. Ron is burning here!
Joe Cocker and the Jayhawks have done the song justice as well.
MIDWEEK CRISIS your head is filled with rumour, come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we got a local boy and he will tell you things to please and line your pockets with Gold, maybe!.
A Surrey Boyo
GRAHAM PARKER - Fool's Gold
What is the best thing anyone can say to you (apart from you have won the lottery) well think about it, if someone says 'Have you lost weight?', you immediately feel good, it can even set you up for the whole day. On the other hand, if someone tells the bleeding truth and says 'have you put weight on?', you feel bad. The world is a bad place, am I really a fat bastard?
I have quite often said to people 'have you lost weight' even if I knew they had not but I am now right up there in their good books. It did not hurt me to say it, cost me nothing and I made somebody happy. Am I being deceitful and not really being nice?
Have I given them Fool's Gold ?
Every time I hear the bit at the end I always think of our brother SFW, it must because of the mention of the 'Valleys'. Funny how the old mind works.
I loved Graham Parker during this period, he had several great albums and his backing band the Rumour were actually Brinsley Schwarz, a really tight outfit. GP was hailed as a new British Dylan or Bruce, praise indeed but a heavy expectation in my mind and he was only a wee fella.
Here is the original which is still one my GP favourites and in fact one of my all time favourites.
'Keep on searching in the Valleys and in the Deep Blue Sea.'
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!
Tyler Lyle - Hollywood, Forever
I recently discovered this fantastic LA based singer/songwriter on the wonderful Fuel/Friends blog. He reminds me of some of my favourite troubadours such as Fionn Regan/Josh Rouse and his album The Golden Age & The Silver Girlis worth a whirl.
Hollywood, Forever reminds me of a holiday I spent in LA with a friend and his wife and in particular a surreal evening I spent at the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood. My friend wanted me to experience the craziness of Hollywood and got his wife to wangle me in as her plus one at a Private party. We arrived at the hotel and made our way to the Penthouse where we found Nicole Ritchie, Eva Mendez and a few actors & actresses sitting on sofas drinking and chatting.
I turned into mouse (not literally) and ended up just staring at them all - when I think of it now, I probably looked like some weird stalker! Those brave enough to approach me seemed only interested in finding out whether I was an actor/musician/somebody - now at this point I had the opportunity for a bit of poetic licence, but instead all I could muster was that I worked in IT - and I was a nobody. For some strange reason even Eva was not impressed and no lasting friendships were made. The only interest I did get was when three blokes approached me and commented on my dapper suit. The three blokes turned out to be Green Day, so I was happy about that!
Mala, a London Dubstep DJ/producer spent sometime in Cuba in 2011 recording with Cuban artists on Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura project. On his return, inspired by his experiences, he created 'Mala in Cuba', his interpretation of Cuban music, a marriage of it's traditional forms with the minimalist, often dark Dubstep sound. BBC's Paul Clarke described elements of Mala in Cuba as the soundtrack to the undiscovered Latin quarter of Blade Runner’s Los Angeles. That's an amazingly evocative description that perfectly sums it up. Noche Suenos, is a stark and atmospheric, Reggae tinged track which features the knee trembling underrated vocal talent that is Danay Suarez (who I have featured a couple of times here).
Old Pa's Corner :-
Clinic - 'Miss You' (2012)
This is a track from Liverpool's Clinic from the album called Free Reign (2012). It somehow reminds me of the Kink's All Day and All of the Night. Been very busy this week in preparation of Flycasual's visit today so not listened to too much new stuff, but this one will do nicely thanks and for good measure I have added link to the remix : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCDcL9OMXbQ&feature=relmfu
Wish me luck, I may need it ?
SFW:-
On An On - 'Ghosts' (2012)
ON AN ONis result of the split of Sacred Trees, members Nate Eiesland, Alissa Ricci and Ryne Estwing decided to carry on and with the help of Producer, Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene), have recorded their debut album, Give In.
Ghosts sits within the sonic landscape of Grizzly Bear/Broken Social Scene/Beach House, and is Indie Rock at its shoegazing best!
I love where the Muse Journey has taken them. They started out as another indie band that sounded a bit like Radiohead (however, I was still a big fan). Now they are a massive megaband and a good example of their vast and varied style is their new single 'Follow Me' which dabbles in electro, rave and even a bit of dubstep. The real reason that I especially like this track is because once it gets going (at around the 2.12 mark) it sounds like one of my childhood faves 'The Neverending Story' by 80's jungle man Limahl. I feel like punching the air and whooping and imagine I'm soaring through the clouds on Valcor's back. I think if you even listen hard enough to the actual track, you can hear the whooshing noises as you fly through the air. It's hard not to appreciate Matt Bellamy's operatic skills too on this one and the album is definitely worth a listen. Check out their site here for full listings of their stadium tour.
Warp 69 - 'Natural High (Global Communications Remix)' (1995)
There we were, having lunch by the pool, minding our own business enjoying the generic chill out background music that was playing in the restaurant. I mentioned to London Scouser that I used to enjoy this sort of music to gently help me to sleep. I went as far as to mention the time Flycasual recommended a particular song which was on a Trip Hop compilation years ago that I've since been trying to find but I couldn't remember what it was called. All of a sudden, no word of a lie, a familiar intro started over the restaurant speakers. My mouth fell open in stunned silence. "NO WAY!!!" I shouted, thinking I must have been mistaken or drank too much wine but sure enough, it was the very same song I was just talking about. It was the weirdest coincidence ever and I'm still freaked out about it now! Has anyone else had an experience like this??
The elusive Warp 69
Luckily, with the hotel's wifi, we Shazam'd the track so I could finally draw a line under my search. It's not everyone's cup of tea I know, but if you like ambient, trip hop mixed with a little jazz thrown in for good measure, this remix is 9 minutes of pure chill out bliss! Its enough to cure anyone suffering from insomnia! I also managed to find the track listing and title for the compilation it was from too here, Down To The Roach, if you wanted more of the same!
Hear are two live covers from Mr C from a concert at the Hammersmith Odean in London on the 24th September 1977. The first one Sign Language first appeared on his album No Reason to Cry (1976) and was given to him by Dylan along with 7 Days whom he apparently passed on to Ronnie Wood. I remember buying that album when it first came out especially just for that track.
Us Dylan fans can be a bit sad somtimes, can't we?
It must be that sign language
Eric first released Knocking on Heaven's Door as a single in 1975. It can still be found on any greatest hits compilation. I could never make up my mind if I liked his version, it is done in Reggae style but the coffee table variety. Hmm! I don't know?
It's all in the hips today as we move with the excellent Brazilian rapper and street poet, Criolo. Huge in his native Brazil where he has been at the forefront of the Hip Hop scene for the past 20 years, combining an eclectic style, of Jazz, Soul, Afropop, Samba and even Reggae to 'good' effect. But like his music, his roots are firmly in São Paulo, notably the sprawling Flavela where he grew up in poverty, becoming a voice for an entire community.
Criolo, likes to play 'castles'...
Both tracks are taken from, 'Nó Na Orelha' (Knot in the Ear), one of the top albums of 2011 in Brazil and which was released internationally, to critical acclaim, earlier this year. It has subsequently become one of my favourites of the year and a soundtrack to a sodden summer after reading about it in Songlines magazine.
You don't need to understand Portuguese to enjoy this, the impeccable musicianship of his band and Criolo's unique singing flow makes it unmistakably Brazilian. Music of this quality deserves to be heard. Right, I don't care what the weather is doing, I'm off out to sit in my son's sandpit and sip Caiparinha's in my speedos.
MIDWEEK CRISIS come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we've got the Velvets and Mott for you today!!
VELVET UNDERGROUND - Sweet Jane(1970)
Which is the best version of this great Velvet's song from their album Loaded(1970)? I have to say I love both versions and Mott the Hoople's version is from their fantastic album, All the Young Dudes (1972)which has one of the best complete sides of an album I can recall. What version do you like?
A sweet looking Lou Reed
I was going to a Lou Reed concert in the very early seventies at the Hammersmith Odeon and finished work late. I picked up my wife and we rushed to the venue, parked the car and had to go straight in as the concert would be starting. It was not what I had planned, I wanted to get a good few in like thenormal thing to do before a concert. You have get in the mood, don't you!?
It was a pretty good concert, I was quite in to Lou at that time. Anyway, when it ended we got out to find the car and saw that someone had tried to break in to my little Mini. The handle of the door was broken off and we could not get in. We were trying all sorts of things to get in when a police car pulled up. They were fantastic and friendly and with some trickery managed to get the door open.
Hail the British Police!
Would you believe it was the one and only time I have ever been to a concert without having had a good few in. Was someone looking out for me? You never know?
Four tracks that got our whiskers twitchin' this week.... What were yours??
Old Pa's Corner :-
Woods - Bend Beyond (2012)
This track is the title track from Woods' latest album Bend Beyond. They come from Brooklyn (funny that) and although this is their 5th album they are new to me. This is great retro stuff, could be the sixties or maybe the seventies with a hint of the Byrds in there, the singer reminds me a bit of Mercury Rev. I have been playing this album for the past few days and it was a toss up between this track and their single Cali in a Cup which is maybe more accessible and commercial. The album is not to be missed at any cost.
If you like the track, below is a 9 min version which is nothing short of immaculate and is worth the effort, trust me?
You gotta love a great chorus and The Civil Twilight's, River certainly has that. They originate from Cape Town, South Africa but now reside in Nashville. Their album Holy Weather, was released in March, but has it's UK release in Spring 2013. Vocalist Steven McKeller sounds a wee bit like Thom Yorke/Jeff Buckley, but their sound is their own.
It was the build up and the tension that did it, the uncontrollable urge to nod my head in slow but sure rock acknowledgement which made me know Tempest was a winner. Thanks to Zane Lowe for giving me the heads up of the Deftones new album Koi No Yokan (which means Love's Premonition in Japanese) via Twitter, which was released on Monday. There are some brilliant songs in there, my favourites being Tempest and Rosemary each with some spiky, dramatic and tense moments with the occasional reprieve which comes like a soothing after sun balm at the end of a scorching day. Chino Moreno's vocals sometimes remind me that of Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode and that's not a bad thing. This latest offering has been compared to White Pony which was the album that for me, was most memorable (check out a Deftones classic post from White Pony here) and I'm sure will please Deftones fans all over. With a new album comes an anticipated tour and the London date for Brixton Academy is set for 20th February. Now that would be worth fighting to go and see!
Sign up to the mailing list at www.deftones.com and to get tickets for their up and coming tour!
Flycasual:-
The Rolling Stones - 'Doom and Gloom' (2012)
Unquestionably, this had to be my choice of track as a result of hearing it approximately 25 times this week, due to my 3 and a half year old son's penchant for loud and riff heavy tunes (the toddler friendly gorilla cover, the clincher). As it is, it is a very good track, sure it won't break the mould but it's just a no nonsense, foot stomping, Rock N Roll track. A throw back to their classics, something The Stones do and have done so well and have no rival to. 'Doom and Gloom' is one of two new tracks taken from their latest greatest hits compendium, GRRR!. Now back to teaching my son the Jagger swagger!
Aqualung - 'Strange And Beautiful (I'll put A Spell On You)' (2002)
I fell in love with this song which was used for the new shape VW Beetle launch adverts because I had a classic 1974 bright red VW bug as my first car. I felt it really captured the hypnotic trance I fall under when I see these beautiful vintage cars. It's a shame I wasn't really a fan of the new design though.
Now this song has a completely new meaning to me. It started when I was putting on my BCD jacket (Buoyancy control device) during the Open Water Divers course I took whilst in Thailand last month. The brand of jacket was Aqualung and I chuckled to myself thinking everything in my life is connected to music! The first day of the course was spent in the pool learning skills and experiencing the feel of breathing under water, but I was looking forward to getting into the real underwater world! It was then that the first line of the lyrics had significance, "I've been watching your world from afar, I've been trying to be where you are". I felt like I was saying this to the sea. Having grown up in Jeddah which is by the Red Sea, I spent a lot of time snorkeling there and on holidays. I've always been in awe of what was under the surface but never got close enough to be in amongst it. Scuba diving by a gorgeous island called Racha Yai for me, was like being awake for the first time. I felt weightless and free and was surrounded by a whole new undiscovered world. It was as if I belonged there, gliding in between schools of fish and this song with it's beautiful but delicate piano is what I thought of. It really was an awesome experience and I have truly fallen under the sea's strange and beautiful spell.
Breathtaking
Aqualung (who is Matt Hales) is still actively recording although his last album Magnetic North, was released a couple of years ago. For those of you who who are Twilight fans (I am!) he co-wrote and sang a duet with Lucy Schwartz, a beautifully haunting track from Breaking Dawn part 1 called 'Cold' which was very poignant during certain scenes. Well worth checking out! Sign up to his mailing list on his site www.aqualung.net and read his blog.
One of the most distinctive voices in rock and a voice to die for. These two Dylan classic songs are tailor made for Joe's gravelly tones. I Shall be Released is taken from his fabulous set at Woodstock in 1969. In my book he was one of the stars of that Mother of all festivals. This is a great version. There is also a fabulous version of Just like a Woman sang during the same concert. I have gone for the studio take from Joe's A little Help from My Friends 1969 album. It is up there with the very best of the JLAW covers, maybe third behind Van Morrison and Richie Havens. But that is a matter of choice.
JOE COCKER - Just Like a Woman(1969)
Joe has done many great Dylan covers and I will feature some more in the future.
I meant to post this awhile back when I was listening to El Producto's incredible 4th album, 'Cancer 4 Cure', one of the best Hip Hop albums I have heard in years. Brooklyn's EL-P has been at the forefront of the Alt-rap scene for many years and his latest offering (released in May this year) sees his production and lyrical flow as innovative as ever, an artist on top of his game. The superb 'Drones Over BKLYN' is a haunting and claustrophobic track with beats Public Enemy's mighty Bomb Squad would be proud of, with a Prince-esque guitar solo to finish off with. Drones over Camberley, Dr-dr-drones over Camberley....
I came across this as a happy accident during a short break at work, whilst briefly browsing music blog behemoth, Stereogum. I returned to my duty refreshed and full of spunk, with my faith in Hip Hop fully restored. Laidback with a psychadelic vibe, it's lush strings are held together with old skool beats but it's Raj Haldar's (aka Lushlife) intelligent rhyming and expert delivery which is the clincher. On top of this, you have a fantastic and innovative video al la 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' (Hip Hop's first record??) with the lyrics of the song displayed on cardboard boxes atop people's heeds. Lushlife hails from Philidelphia and Magnolia is taken from the album 'Plateau Vision', which will have me rooting round the back of Argos looking for cardboard boxes fo sho!
MIDWEEK CRISIS you feel a bit fat after all that holiday indulgence, come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we've got a rowing machine and Winston Rodney to help you slim!
You are fat, you finally admit it, it is time to diet and get fit, you know it is right and you know you should have done it long before it has got to this stage. Everything you wear feels tight, that is not you (as you see/imagine yourself) in those Christmas photos.
Time to join a gym, well maybe not! You know what happened last time? You went and met your personal trainer (a babe) and were enthusiastic about the fitness plan, the trouble is you went just 3 times in 6 months and that meant it was costing you over £60 every visit. You tried to cancel immediately but forgot to read the small print, you needed to give 3 months notice. So you went for comfort and ate 2 large bags of crisps and a Pukka pie. To hell with bloody Gyms!!
I remember buying a rowing machine. I thought it would be much cheaper than going to a gym and thought I could do it whilst I watched my favourite TV programmes (Corrie, Newsnight etc etc) it is win win. I am back on the road to fitness I thought !
I never used the damned thing and decided to sell it as it was causing clutter. I advertised it at work. (The Boat That I Row, as sung by Lulu) well you have got to make it appealing. A friend said he wanted it as both his wife and him wanted to lose weight and be fit.
'Look! you are my friend, don't buy it, you will never use it and it will end up in your garage'.
I could not tell him and he bought the rowing machine.
A skip yesterday
About 18 months later I said to him how did you get on with the rowing machine? He replied that it was funny I had asked as he had never used it, ever. He gave it to his brother-in-law as he was on a fitness kick. My friend had visited his brother-in-law a few days earlier who was having some home improvements and you will never guess what he saw it in the skip outside of his house???
I'm the sickest, I'm the sickest, I'm the sickest!
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!
Keaton Henson - Sweetheart, What Have You Done To Us?
One of the Best British Songwriters of the last 12 Months has returned more melancholic than ever. Henson has yet again bared his soul to all, and I for one, am delighted. Whereas his most recent release Kronos, showed us a darker, heavier side, Sweetheart evokes memories of Jeff Buckley, and whereas this comparison is often used for sound-a-likes who just follow a formula, Keaton is the real deal. Songs this genuine should be savoured.
Sketches for my Sweetheart the drunk
Like Singer Songwriters? Like a bit of Misery? Like Men with Beards?
Astronauts, etc is Anthony Ferraro, and there is something about this song. Somewhere in between Bon Iver and Filter, it's a song that will be on my 'Tracks of the Year' and it should be on yours! I absolutely love it.
Where on earth did I find this little electronic wonder? I saw a CD lying around at work unopened from French music and culture magazine Les Inrockuptibles (official website here if you can speak French!) and after seeing a few familiar artists (Band of horses, Willy Moon and Bat for Lashes) plus some not so familar artists, I took it and said thank you very much! The song that stood out for me was this one from Vitalic (check his website www.vitalic.org), a French born electronic music master. His third album 'Rave Age' was just released on 5th November which Stamina is taken. I love the gritty bass and little distorted voice that makes me imagine a tiny fly trying in vain to tell you off. The video is good but a bit gruesome, much like the Gluttony scene from fantastic film Seven. If you are freshly back from 2 weeks of indulgence as I am and ready to embark on a pre-holiday weight journey, this is just the tune you need to get you into the "feel the burn" mindset! Or just get someone to run ahead of you with a giant burger!
Lawrence Arabia, absolutely nothing to do with Peter O'Toole and Omar Sheriff blowing shit up in the desert but the moniker of Kiwi artist James Milne. The Listening Times is one of the many standouts and latest single of his latest album the excellent, The Sparrow. An album which sounds like it has been recorded in a parallel universe, 70's and 80's style sounds intertwined with vintage Jazz and even 30's era Ragtime, with hints of David Byrne, The Tindersticks and The Divine Comedy but it still manages to sound contemporary. And like The Listening Times, it has an unmistakeable 60's feel to it but with a modern edge, as if it has been dragged through an echo chamber with it's subtle dub undertones. Check out his official site here.....and download The Listening Times for free!
Old Pa's Corner:- Neil Young - Psychedelic Pill (2012)
Neil Young, what can you say?, would you believe this is second official release this year and his new album 'Psychedelic Pill' with 'Crazy Horse' is a double too. Most artist have a dark and a light side but with Neil Young it is clear cut. If you are familiar with the lighter side 'Heart of Gold' 'Only Love will break your Heart' then this may be a little bit of a shock to you.. Mr Young can Rock hard with the best of them. He is also a brilliant guitarist.
This taster from the new album fits that hard rock bill. I have not heard the rest of the album yet as I have just returned from holiday but I am looking forward to getting 'stuck in' to it. There are some very long tracks, so I will be expecting lots of guitar solos. Bring it on! Check out the video too. It's cool 'as they say!'
Seeing the sunset always evokes memories and thoughts of great songs, but how many of you have seen the full moon rise out of the sea? I did for the very first time during my recent trip to Phi Phi Island, Thailand. We knew it was going to be a full moon on 30th October so my mum was adamant we were going to sit on the beach and watch it. After sitting there with a couple of beers for over an hour with no moon in sight, Old pa and London Scouser were getting a bit fidgety. The mosquitoes were also beginning to think it was a great idea to come to the beach and a huge cloud of them began to congregate over my head. That was the last straw for Old pa who chickened out and threw in the towel thinking the moon was never gonna show.
Strange moon...
Sure enough, about 5 minutes after they left (typical) I saw a red glow slowly coming from behind an island on the horizon. I shrieked to old ma that the moment we had been waiting for was here! Then there she was in her full red glowing perfect circledness! All I could hear in my mind was Belly's Low Red Moon, the grungy, off key guitar hook and dark chorus would have been perfect for watching the eerie glow growing from the sky. Its the sort of song that should've featured on the Twilight soundtrack but never was. We sat and watched the full moon rise out of the sea changing colour from a searing hot red to a warm golden orange, a first for me and something I won't forget in a long time.
Belly's gonna get you!!
Sadly Belly were only together for a couple of albums, but the lead singer Tanya Donelly continued with a solo career and you can check out her website here www.tanyadonelly.com. I can't believe I didn't even realise that she was part of two other bands that I liked, Throwing Muses and The Breeders!
More SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX posts from Shell Hunter here or subscribe to my Spotify playlist below!
I love this track with it's looping scratch and piano and Micheal Ivey's laboured delivery adding to the smokey atmosphere. The sound of a broken man, there's a real feel of resignation here, a reluctance to move on or be helped as our protagonist is weighed under his lovesick stupour.
Because of the unique nature of the song, I used to view it as a bit of a novelty record blissfully ignorant to it's real meaning. I would think.... 'Ah bless him, he must be upset...he sounds like he's in such a bad mood. It can't be that bad'! Little did I know a few years down the line, the track would take extra significance as I would get 'kicked in the ass by love' myself and would fully understand why he sounded so bloody miserable!
DC Basehead.....upset!
'Not Over You' is taken from DC Basehead's debut album Play With Toys and you'll be pleased to know that he is no longer gutted and has re-released his debut to coincide with it's 20th anniversary.
MIDWEEK CRISIS Pa is down the Pub again come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we've got the biggest tree in the world & Richard & Van and they want to play ball with you.
Flycasual and Old Pa (1978)
VAN MORRISON - 'Redwood Tree' (1972)
What are dads all about?
I kind of like to be compared to a Giant Redwood Tree that is strong and can give protection especially in times of thunder. This is one of my favourite Van tunes, it has a nice simple melody and message and Van's voice is still at its majestic best. It of course is one of the best dad and son songs there is. It is from the album St Dominic's Preview.
The next one on the same theme comes from an excellent album by Richard Harris called My Boy he was still at this time collaborating with one of my favourite song writers Jim Webb. The album is a concept album about a relationship from the beginning until the breakup and of course how it affects his boy. Take my word, Jim Webb knows how to write a break up song and some of his best you will probably know, Do What You Gotta Do, A Tramp Shining andMacArthur Park. This version by RH always brings a tear to my eye.
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!
Mark Eitzel - I Know The Bill Is Due (2012)
Mark Eitzel, legendary songwriter, and lead singer in American Music Club, has recently released his latest album Don't Be A Stranger and The Nick Drake-esq, 'I Know The Bill Is Due' is one of my songs of the year! It seems Eitzel has suffered a few years of bad luck which culminated with a heart attack in 2011 and the passing of AMC drummer Tim Mooney in June this year.
Out of these difficult, possibly dark times came a shining light in the form of a friend (who had won the lottery) who offered to fund his album. Produced by Sheldon Gomberg (Rickie Lee Jones, Ron Sexsmith, Ben Harper) and released by the excellent Merge Records, it's raw, compelling lyrics and outstanding vocals performance has captured the man in in reflective, but brilliant form. It's Beautiful....bloody beautiful! Sadness never sounded so good!
Like Singer Songwriters? Like a bit of Misery? Like Men with Beards?
Autumn leaves be fallin', no matter these tunes will pick you up! What were yours??
Shell Hunter:- Jackamo Brown - When She Comes (2012)
Here's another great recommendation from London Scouser (see his guest spots posts here). Whilst checking out Scroobious Pip's website for merchandise, he noticed an album for sale by Jackamo Brown (not to be mistaken for the website selling clothes for the larger lad) on Pip's own record label Speech Development. Already loving Mr.Pip's style and skill with spoken word and those he's toured with, surely it would be worth checking out the album which is called 'Oh no. The Drift of the World'. I wasn't disappointed and love this song in particular, which sounded a bit like one of my favourite Radiohead songs, 'Exit music for a film' from the OK Computer album. That, coupled with the Leonard Cohen darkness in the vocals hooked me good and proper, you can almost hear the hurt! Check his blog here, there's also some free downloads as well as other interesting material! Flycasual:-
You get two for one on this track, starting out as a jolly number before turning mildly apocalyptic towards the end, brilliant! For me, 'Weapon of Choice' is the sharpest track out of an arsenal of 11 from The D.O.T.'s 'And That' album, the new project from Mike Skinner (The Streets) and Rob Harvey (lead singer of the now defunct The Music). It's also the only song in which Mike Skinner sings, whereas the rest sees him at the helm, as chief beat creator.
It's a great album and a slight move away from his UK Garage infused Streets days, flirting with Rock, Dubstep and Electronica. With some notable moments, it's well worth your time. (Freedom Fighters..great tune!)
Willy Mason is back! He's been given us snippets of new material over the last few months but this really excites me. The new album "Carry On" is released on December 3rd and whilst you'll be able to catch him on tour now with Ben Howard, he has his own Headline UK tour (catch me at the Cardiff date!) in March 2013.
Old Pa's Corner:-
Bat For Lashes - All Your Gold (2012)
I kind of like the name Bat for Lashes, I wonder if means a cricket bat instead of a whip or maybe is it a blood sucking flying rodent for a sexy vampira. Enough of this drivel, this song All Your Gold is taken the album The Haunted Man and I think it is all rather good. I am not too familiar with BFL but on this track there is definitely a bit of Kate Bush with a little Tom Waits as a side. Heady mix! Thank you SFW for pointing them out to me a few weeks back.!
Some of best concerts I've been to are the ones that I didn't intend to see. I was at V Fest 2001, sitting in the sunshine waiting for Counting Crows and we arrived early to get a decent spot. Another group had just started and I was instantly mesmerised with their energy and every single track seemed to be a winner! There were hints of drum'n'bass, trip hop, break beat and it wasn't what I'd normally listened to, being a big Indie fan at the time. I hate to admit it but after Kosheen had performed, I was so pumped up, Counting Crows were not the group that should have followed, it was a little bit of an anti climax. As soon as I was back from the festival, Bristol band, Kosheen's debut album Resist was what I went to buy and it was on a permanent rotation for a long while.
The Mackenzie Clan's favourite album
Later that year, I went to a friends 18th birthday do, in my regular haunt 'The Rifleman' pub in Hounslow. The choice of music being played was dire at best and I was fast becoming bored. All of a sudden, the DJ slipped on 'Hide U' by Kosheen and my ears pricked up like a meerkat causing me to run straight to the dance floor and start jumping up and down, exactly like the Lead singer Sian Evans had whilst on stage. The song seemed to be from the DJ's private stash as he had become bored himself, probably thinking no one was really listening as most had vacated to the main bar area. For 3 minutes, I forgot where I was and really enjoyed hearing this track loud with the bass really kicking. After the song finished and I was brought back down to earth, I decided to buy the DJ a drink as a thank you for improving my evening. He mistook this as some sort of come on and didn't leave me alone the rest of the evening, trying to blind me with music mixing jargon that didn't interest me in the slightest!
Don't be too nice to the DJs love, they won't leave you alone, look!
It's Saturday, it's guest spot day and today we have my work colleague and friend, Reza with tales of debauchery at university, no not really. Incidentally, congratulations to you and yours for the birth of your new baby boy!! Sleep well!
If you would like to contribute a guest spot then email us or click here...Tell us your favourite song, memory or gig, we'd love to hear from you.
It was the summer that was....1999. The climax of four years hard study (well almost!) had finally come. Our university days were now coming to a close and we had forged new friendships on a level never really expected before. The uncertainty of what lay ahead in the next few weeks, months, years was frightening. One thing was obvious, our group was about to be split up, all venturing back across the country. Of course we all said we would remain in touch, but would we really? Then this song was released. It seemed to put everything in context and was like a final lesson releasing us into the real world. Essentially don't take things too seriously. Enjoy life and make the most of every opportunity. It was blue skies thinking and suddenly filled us all with a positive vibe once again!
I liked the Seekers they knocked out quite a few good tracks in the sixties, Il Never Find Another You, Morningtown Ride and Georgy's Girl. They have a couple of versions of 'Blowin in the Wind', this one and a live version. This one is quite acceptable in a Peter, Paul and Mary sort of way. Put it this way, it is a whole lot better than the following hideous version by the New Seekers. They were formed by one member of the original group and morphed into a poppy outfit I would like to teach the world to sing. Remember that Coke advert?
THE NEW SEEKERS - Blowin' in the Wind (1972)
The hideous version is by the New Seekers and can be found on their album Circles.
My girlfriend and I hadn't been going out long and were still checking each other out (yes still, read my Cuban post here)! when we booked a romantic weekend trip to the 'Venice of the North', Amsterdam. It was perfect, spring was in the air, the tulips were in full bloom, a leisurely stroll along a canal before taking in the Van Gogh museum. I had Post Impressionist facts about ears and stuff at the ready should they be needed to impress. Then back to our hotel, a typical classic Amsterdam townhouse in a quiet part of town for a nap before dinner, table booked for 2030. Bliss....ahhh new love!
I suggested that since we were in Amsterdam we should experience a 'coffee shop' - when in Rome and all that. In order to impress my girlfriend I wanted to make out like I knew what I was talking about so told her to follow my lead. We went to a chilled and cosy looking coffee shop away from the main drag with JJ Cale playing in the background - it was the perfect vibe. I ordered a coffee for me, a hot chocolate for my hot date and like a connoisseur, I asked the fine gentlemen behind the bar for the 'menu'. Without a clue, I decided on a ready made joint of which they had only one kind, ominously called 'Super Skunk,' obviously not a good idea but oh, what the hell, yes please!
A shmoke and Pancake alstublieft!
With the conversation flowing, the drinks going down nicely and the J being passed back and forth, all was going well. I was having most of the joint so I began to realise I might have a problem on my hands. I was already righting the world's wrongs in my head when my girlfriend piped up and to my horror said "Hey should we get another one?" Lord only knows why I agreed and even the barman looked at me with that sort of look that says, "you sure you know what you’re doing pal?" I returned to the table with drinks and with a doobie that even Jim Morrison would have refused. A few drags in, the conversation went dead, paranoia set in as I thought I had said something to upset her. Is that really the lizard king shaking his head at me in the corner? What were we talking about? The silence grew increasingly uncomfortable, I broke out in a cold sweat as I squirmed in my comfy armchair but was it really comfy? I realised I was having the dreaded 'whitey', blood drained from my face, features all slack....I had to get out so I bolted.
Dam Square, perfect recovery area..
My girlfriend chased me through the streets of Amsterdam asking what was the matter, with the bicycles dodging me thinking ‘bloody tourist!’, until I made my way to a crowded Dam Square. I tried to find the most comfortable position which was lying down besides the monument, half on - half off some steps, in the middle of the most famous square in town. Not really a good look for me and certainly not quite the impression I was hoping to make after the wonderful day we had had. We should have gone to a nice bar to have a couple of sophisticated cocktails as an aperitif before dinner. Instead what I did was probably the equivalent of downing two pints of Carlsberg Special Brew - classy. Dinner was now ruined, as it took me at least an hour or so to recover enough to get moving again. I don't remember her being that mad at me, (I definitely would have broken up with me) and besides, she is still with me 10 years on so my charm and irresistible good looks must have won the day!
Zero 7's debut album 'When it Falls' reminds me of that weekend. I had bought it prior to our trip and it was the ideal accompaniment as it was the perfect mood setter. Two of my favourite tracks here, with stunning keyboard work on the Fender Rhodes on the gorgeous 'In the Waiting Line' and 'I Have Seen'.
Please note, that both my now wife and I did not inhale!!
Zero 7 official site here and check out RCRDLBL.com for some free Zero & downloads including their latest offering for the Talk Talk tribute album, 'Spirit of Talk Talk'
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