It's another Merry Christ-mix!

Well, it's that time again, And this year I've plumped for Groove Geezus' Have a Funky Christmas mix. I'll be off on my annual digital detox now, catch you in 2020 unless I succumb to a fatal gin and turkey overdose. Ho, ho, ho! Have a great one.

Christmas Wrapping - Jess Clarke

I'm in awe of anyone who can play a musical instrument but people who can play more than one...good grief. I had the pleasure of meeting Jess Clark in SPS Records (Teignmouth) a few weeks ago but had no idea she was planning on covering one of my personal favourite Christmas tracks, the mighty Christmas Wrapping, recording, playing and singing the whole darn thing and knocking out a video too. It's pretty faithful to the original but with a slightly grungier bit of bass and some festively twinkly bells. Love it!

PS: Check out some of Jess's other stuff too, she can play the sitar...not an easy instrument to master apparently...mind you I couldn't master the recorder...

Calling For Change - The Irrepressibles

It's been a while but good things come to those who wait and this new release from The Irrespressibles is ruddy good. Fusing the classical chamber pop of previous releases with an electro feel that wouldn't be out of place on a classic early Soft Cell track lyrically it looks back at Jamie's (lead Irrepressible) childhood in lets just say less enlightened times. Pure dancefloor therapy for the soul.

Geowolf - He's 31

Blow me, this is a beauty of a track. It gives me the same kind of blissed out but ever so slightly shivery feeling that I got from Chungking's making music back in the day. Any excuse eh...?

Puddles Pity Party - Crazy Train

You know what you need to listen to right now? A 6ft 8inch clown covering Ozzy's Crazy Train. You're welcome.

Marc Almond featuring Ian Anderson - Lord Of Misrule

Blimey, where did this come from? The hardest working man in showbiz is back with a new single and this time he's teamed up with Mr Jethro Tull himself, Ian Anderson. As Christmas singles go it's a little dark but then again if you believe one tenth of what we hear in the media at the moment these are pretty dark times. Almond's got form when it comes to railing against the world we live in (see also Tears Run Rings) but this track's unusually rocky for him...you know what...it works though. I'll certainly be spinning it whilst munching my way through my own body weight in sprouts and downing several pints of gin. If the world's going to hell in a handcart you might as well be well fed and 'watered'...

Frank Zappa - Dancing Fool

Strange coincidence time. I was thinking about Frank Zappa earlier today and lo and behold December 4th 2019 is actually the 26th anniversary of his death (at just 52 as well...blimey that gives me less than three years to record a bunch of albums, freak out most of America, spawn several children and give them weird names...I'd better get cracking). 

McAlmont and Butler - Yes

How good did this album (picked up for 50p on CD) sound on a vintage mid 90s JVC boombox (double tape deck, CD player, radio...picked up for a tenner in a truly filthy state but cleaned up a treat)? A-bloody-mazing. I fear that soooooo many people nowadays only hear their downloaded music (compressed and therefore usually a pretty poor reflection of the original recording) through tinny little speakers or headphones when they could be luxuriating in sonic loveliness for a mere tenner. Hey ho.