Da Pages

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Broadcast - Come On Let's Go




I was reminded of how good this track was when it got played on 6 Music yesterday. File under 'Other Worldly'. Sadly the group's vocalist, Trish Keenan, contracted swine flu whilst on tour in Australia and died from pneumonia in January 2011.

PS: Whilst we're at it let's have a spin of The Book Lovers too.



Tuesday, April 28, 2020

James Brown - I Feel Good (Sam Redmore's Afromix)




Hardly a week seems to go by without Craig Charles playing a tip top Sam Redmore mix on his Funk and Soul show but I don't think I've heard his Afro-tastic version of the Godfather of Soul's I Feel Good before...and who doesn't need a little JB in their day right now? 

Friday, April 24, 2020

Thomas Truax & Budgie - A Wonderful Kind Of Strange




I'm lucky enough to know a few wonderful kind of strange people (some might suggest I'm just a little odd myself) so this new track from Thomas Truax and Budgie (ex Banshee and Creature) has been working its way into my brain over the past few days. I signed up to Truax's mailing list about a decade or so ago and he's still sending out regular updates bless him. Here's another taste of Truax for you to enjoy but all of his stuff's well worth exploring...and let's face it you've probably got the time to do it now haven't you eh? 



Thursday, April 23, 2020

Billy Bragg - The World Turned Upside Down




You can't argue with the song title right now and the track mentions St George (well, his hill at least) which, as today is St George's Day, makes this track twice as appropriate. There's something about the song's theme of standing up for your rights that chimes with these strange old times too.

Clearly no one wants to spread a nasty virus all over the place and/or put healthcare and other front line workers under additional pressure but equally I'm seeing a lot of friends who are finding this 'lockdown' increasingly difficult to cope with, both emotionally and financially, and endless talk of extending it by weeks or even months is pretty grim.

I have far more questions than answers when it comes to what's going on at the moment but as wiser souls than me have pointed out might there come a time when the 'lockdown' ends up causing more harm than the virus itself? Only time will tell I guess...

Monday, April 20, 2020

Balaban and the Bald Illegals - Blossom




New week, new music...and a lyrically poignant (especially for these times) belter from Balaban and the Bald Illegals! Crank it up, bounce around and work off that family size bag of Celebrations you polished off with a bottle of red wine last night. What? Just me? Oh...

Friday, April 17, 2020

Hot 8 Brass Band - Ghost Town




No explanation needed for this one is there eh? Ahhh for the simple pleasures of a wander around town...any town...

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Purple Mountains - All My Happiness Is Gone




I think we can all agree that things ain't exactly 100% right now but at least we still have music eh? I love a happy tune as much as the next bloke but if the next bloke happens to be having a particularly tough time then maybe this track's more appropriate. Very sadly the songsmith (and there really are some great lyrics on offer here) behind it, David Berman, decided that his happiness really had gone and took his own life back in August 2019. I wonder what he'd have made of 2020?!

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Selfish Cunt - England Made Me




As I crawl ever closer to my half century Selfish Cunt remain the most intense live act I've ever seen. How this dude managed to avoid death or serious injury during some of these gigs I'll never know. Hell, I'm amazed some of the audience members survived. I kept moving...and ducking.

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home




Continuing the theme of vaguely Coronavirus related tracks here's another beauty from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Whatever you're up to this Easter break make sure you try to get up to it at home.

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Dr John - Locked Down




I'd not heard this track or the late period Mac album that spawned it before reading about it in an old copy of Mojo magazine but it's not only a groovy tune but pretty darn appropriate for these strange days too. Enjoy!

Friday, April 03, 2020

Antibodies - Poni Hoax



Here's another track that's been going round and round in my locked down mind for the past few days. It's a strange old video but then again these are strange old days...

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

The Dresden Dolls - War Pigs (Live)




I was lucky enough to see The Dolls do this live myself back in 2004 (?) at The Medicine Bar in Birmingham and I had to scoop up my jaw after witnessing it. Amanda's ace as ever but Brian's drumming is something else.

And just in case War Pigs is a bit heavy for you right now here's something a little more soothing...