Herbie Hancock - Nobu

How about a little early techno jazz (yes, that's a thing...probably) from Mr Herbie Hancock to round off the week? Rather incredibly this glitchy masterpiece is being beamed back to us all the way from 1974. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of his time. 

Of course less than a decade later he comes up with this absolute 80s banger too. Enjoy.

Pixx - Peanuts Grow Underground

There's a hint of Propaganda's icy pop genius about this rather spiffing track to my ancient old ears and that's a very good thing indeed. What do you think?



Just me then? Oh...okay. Still any excuse to stick up a bit of Propaganda.

HAIM - Summer Girl

It's taken a few weeks for me to get into the new one from HAIM but that baritone sax...oh boy...plus who doesn't like seeing the band enjoying the sun eh?

Black Country, New Road - Sunglasses

Some tracks take a few listens to lodge themselves into my brain, like this epic musical meltdown courtesy of Black Country, New Road. Jazz, spoken word, indie, post punk...it's a positive pick n mix of influences and well worth spending 8 minutes 55 seconds with. Blimey I know some bands who released entire albums shorter than that.

Daniel Johnston RIP

Sad to hear of the passing of Daniel Johnston yesterday but chuffed that, despite his demons, his unique music, art and voice found plenty of fans during his all too brief stay here on planet earth. Let's hope that wherever he goes next true love finds him in the end eh? RIP.

Daniel...shot by me...at Wilderness Festival 2011. 

Save Ferris - Come On Eileen

It's not often that I can remember the exact date of a gig but September 11th 2001 is, as you can imagine, not one I'll ever forget. Big respect to Save Ferris (who are from the USA of course) for still playing the gig (at the Irish Centre in Digbeth) on a night when, quite frankly, no one knew what was going to happen next. Almost 20 years later 9/11's still the most shocking thing I've ever seen and I suspect it always will be. RIP to all who died that day. 

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga - It Don't Mean A Thing

Somehow the Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga collaboration passed me by back in 2014 but I picked up a copy of their album for a mere 50p on Saturday and it's a cracker. No...really. Don't believe me? Try this one...



Apparently Gaga's doing a residency in Las Vegas at the moment, some shows are pop and some jazz...I'll have to swing by sometime. I wonder if GWR trains go that far?

Richard Dawson - Jogging

First heard this on the ever reliable Marc Riley show and it really is a remarkable track, from the 'how the hell is he fitting these words into a song' lyrics (helpfully written up on the vid as the song jogs along) to Dawson's angelically angst ridden vocals. If this doesn't float your boat then quite frankly you need a life jacket. Enjoy!

Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage - LPs

Lordy, I love this. I'm guessing I'm a little older than the wonderful Jeffrey Lewis (and I don't agree with his verdict that everything from the 80s sucked but vive le difference eh?) however both he and I grew up in that wonderful magical pre internet age when discovering music was genuinely a hunt and a thrill as opposed to being a mere click away. I remember when vinyl was dirt cheap too, coming back from car boot sales with a bag full of bargains on a weekly basis. Ahhhh, happy days. But, as Jeff quite rightly concludes those happy days are still here...only now its CDs that are the bargains! I've been banging on about this for months / years so it's nice to know I'm not the only one who has a growing soft spot for those little silver discs. And the prices...good grief...four CDs for £1 in some charity shops! Nuts! But don't tell everyone okay, it's just our little secret.

Magic Mick - In praise of Mick Talbot

He's been pounding the keys for 4 decades or so now as part of Dexy's (in several of its incarnations), The Style Council, Galliano, Young Disciples and an eclectic selection of other bands so it's odd that Mick Talbot seldom seems to get the kudos he obviously richly deserves. So here's my humble effort to start redressing the balance with a track that I've just discovered after finding a 12 inch in a charity shop (which sadly I didn't buy for some reason...I know...). Enjoy and if you do enjoy share it with the rest of planet earth.



PS: Obviously I'm not the only Mick fan, here's a cool mix/Micks of some of the man's magic moments.