Hippity Hoppity Happy Chris-mix!

Right, that's it. I'm off for my festive digital detox. Thanks to everyone who's dropped in on this 'ol blog over the past 12 months. As is traditional I've spent literally minutes trawling You Tube for a suitably festive mix with a bit of a funky/souly vibe and this year's winner is...drum roll...DJ Julz! He's even done a video for you...bless him. Have a great one! x

Terry Hall RIP

Gutted to hear that Terry Hall's passed away but what an amazing body of work he gifted the world over the past 40+ years eh?  Here's one that you may not have heard from the short lived Terry, Blair and Anouchka, would you believe that this single only got to number 77?! Number fucking 77?! What the fuck were the record buying public thinking eh? 

Ah, this one's a classic as well. Seems pretty appropriate too. RIP Terry. 

Where Do Jam Jars Go At Christmas Time - Misty's Big Adventure

In just over a week or so Misty's Big Adventure would usually be playing their annual pre Christmas gig, but very sadly after Grandmaster Gareth passed away back in May there'll be a big Misty's shaped hole in a number of Brum gig goers' lives. Sending love to the band, Gareth's family and his many (but at the same time far too few) fans. 

Get Down and Flirty…The Flirtations play The Night Owl!

 

Northern Soul legends The Flirtations play a special Christmas show at The Night Owl in Digbeth (Brum...for all the non Brummie's out there) this Saturday, December 17^th! Tickets are just £20 (The Flirtations (live vocal performance) + Abi Farrell (Big AC Records) Tickets, Sat, Dec 17, 2022 at 8:00 PM | TicketSellers (theticketsellers.co.uk) and support comes from rising funk and soul star Abi Farrell.

Plaque To The Future - Brum's Rum Runner's Back On The Map

 

For a brief spell in the very early 80s Brum’s Rum Runner Club was right at the heart of the burgeoning New Romantic scene and home (almost literally by all accounts) to one of the bands that pretty much invented the genre, Duran Duran (who also filmed the rarely seen video above for Planet Earth there too). 

Maybe it’s just me but some of those early singles still sound futuristic and whilst the Rum Runner’s gone the same way as so many other iconic music venues (see also The Cavern, The Hacienda and CBGBs for starters) the site it occupied is finally getting a much deserved Blue Plaque from the Birmingham Civic Society. Work and geography – I live in Devon now and the number 9 bus doesn’t go that far sadly – prevent me from personally attending its unveiling on December 16th but if you’re anywhere near why not don those pixie boots, slap on some lippie and pop along? All together now “Bop, bop-bop, bop, bop-bop, bop-bop…”.

Watermelon Man - Byron Lee and the Dragonaires

Picked up a cheapo Ska compilation last week and this track (a cover of the jazz classic by Herbie Hancock) really stood out...especially as the thought of sitting on a beach with a big juicy watermelon seems particularly enticing given the ruddy freezing weather here in the UK right now. 

Just For You - Billy Preston and Syreeta

Wow, more than a week since posting anything. I'm slacking off in my old age. To be fair I was off work for a few days though and that means a strict no laptop policy...and no...I don't have a 'smart' phone either. Crazy eh? Anyone would think it wasn't possible to live without the damn things judging by the looks of bemusement/pity I get every time someone asks me for my mobile number and I tell 'em I don't have one. Anyway, when not working I'm usually elbow deep in mountains of charity shop CDs and last week was no exception. 37 in one day. Yes, I know,,,I need help. Still, one of the bargains was a reissue of Billy Preston and Syreeta's album for a mere 50p and it contains this little gem that wouldn't sound too out of place on a Prince platter. Enjoy! 

Irene Cara RIP

If you had to pick two songs that really set the mood for the 80s I reckon Fame and Flashdance wouldn't be a bad choice. Brimming with 'me against the world' ambition and produced with pop perfection in mind both tunes soundtracked massively successful movies and were, of course, sung by Irena Cara who's just passed away at the age of 63. 

I bought the Fame 7 inch waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1981, which must make it one of my first record purchases, and still have it in a box somewhere. Amazingly, after such an incredible start to her career, Cara's last top 40 hit was in 1984 although she continued to perform over the years, seemingly often as a backing vocalist to other acts. I guess topping two of the most iconic songs of the early 80s ain't an easy trick to pull off though eh? Still, as legacies go that's a pretty awesome pair of tunes to have under your musical belt. RIP Irene. 

Wilko Johnson RIP

Sad news just in, Wilko Johnson's passed away at the grand old age of 75. Originally misdiagnosed as suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer almost a decade ago thankfully it turned out that he had a more treatable condition (albeit involving the removal of a 3kg tumour!). I was lucky enough to catch him with Norman Watt-Roy at the Hare and Hounds back in 2013 and, as the clip above from You Tube shows, he was still in blistering form. 

And here he is from 1975 with Dr Feelgood...doing it right. 

RIP Wilko. 

I Feel Love (Live in Montreux) - Bronski Beat & Marc Almond

Stumbled across this clip from 1985 today which features two of the arguably most unique male vocalists of the 80s (and beyond) at the very top of their powers. I was lucky enough to see Marc live for the first time in 1988 but so far Mr Somerville's evaded me. Maybe one day eh? Who knows, maybe they'll team up for another duet? A boy can dream. 

Pussywiggle Stomp - Don Ellis

 As the weekend approaches how's this for a soundtrack. And who doesn't love a wiggling pussy eh? Ahem. 

Meal Deal - Panic Shack

This track woke me up yesterday morning when it got a spin on 6Music. No stranger to the Meal Deal myself it's a timely little number given the impending financial misery that's about to be unloaded on those who can least afford it...which, let's face it, is most of us. Still, with his many millions our glorious leader Mr Sunak'll be okay and that's all that matters right? 

Fruit Machine Demos

Went down a bit of a Dolly Mixture (influential but criminally underrated all girl pop/post punk combo) rabbit hole today and ended up at this awesome collection of demos from ex Dolly Rachel Bor's next band, Fruit Machine. How the hell Monte Carlo didn't end up being released is a mystery to me. 

Miracle - Betty Boo featuring Chuck D...seriously

 How did I miss the release of this eh? Betty Boo and Chuck D?! Genius. 

Pearly Dewdrops' Drops - Cocteau Twins

This weekend's CD haul included a trio of Cocteau Twins CDs including The Pink Opaque compilation featuring this sublime beauty. Who says the 80s were cheesy eh?  

Agression - Misty's Big Adventure

I've had this track going round and round in my head for various reasons lately, so it's a great excuse to make good on my promise to continue promoting the music of Misty's Big Adventure. Almost 6 months on from the passing of Grandmaster Gareth it's still almost unimaginable that there won't be any more music or gigs from 'em...whatever the rest of the band are up to I hope they're all as well as can be expected. 

Edge Of The Edge - Panda Bear & Sonic Boom

How beautiful is this track eh? Odd, I'll give you that, but beautiful nonetheless. Especially if, like most of us, you're on the edge of the edge right now.   

Jazzberry Ram - Stupid

Took a punt on a CD (a whole 35p punt too) on Saturday by a Canadian band called Jazzberry Ram and it's a bit of a winner. If you're a fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers and/or Barenaked Ladies (the band, not actual bare naked ladies...ahem...) I'm guessing Jazzberry Ram will be right up your alleyway. Enjoy! 

Music For Chameleons - Gary Numan

With our Sky TV on the blink I've been rewatching Alan Partridge on DVD this week and was reminded of the frankly awesome bass solo (played by Pino Palladino I believe) at the heart of Gary Numan's Music For Chameleons (that Partridge plays air guitar to in series 2). The rest of the track's not too shabby either. 

The Real Mercury Award Winners 2022...

Once again it falls to The Hearing Aid to reveal the real winner and this year it's...drum roll please...YARD ACT! Congratulations lads, worthy winners.  

Where Have You Gone - Mr Bruce

Brand new track from Mr Bruce in tribute to his The Correspondents band mate Tim Cole (aka Chucks) who passed away suddenly from a pulmonary embolism back in 2020 at just 35 years old. I was fortunate enough to see the band back in the 2010s and clearly Mr Bruce has lost none of his Duracell Bunny energy. How the hell does he dance like that and still manage to sing? Voodoo I'm guessing. 

Face It Alone - Queen

A mere 31 years after going to that great stage in the sky Freddie's back with a brand new track! An offcut from Queen's last but one album (The Miracle) released during Freddie's lifetime it's clearing the reflection of a man who knows he's not long for this world, perhaps giving it more in common with the band's follow up, Innuendo. I wonder if Queen are keeping an eye on ABBA's Voyage and plotting a similar virtual. Hmmmm, that could work!

Blues Five Spot - Thelonius Monk Quartet

How cool is this? It just is. Even the bloody cover's cool. Damn. In fact it's ice cold, it's that cool. 

Tomorrow's People - Humble Souls

Following a tip from Gilles Peterson (and being a fan of all things Acid Jazz) I snapped up a copy of Humble Souls' 1993 album on CD for a whole £1.25 (+ p&p) the other day. With echoes of Galliano's best it's well worth a listen and Peterson was right, how the hell did it fail to get anywhere? 

ABBA Voyage @ ABBA Arena - Friday September 30th 2022

ABBA! Live! Sort of! 

Unless you've been living under a rock this year (and quite frankly who could blame you if you had) you'll be aware that ABBA have been turned into ABBA-tars and are 'gigging' again for the first time in 43 years. I was a little sceptical about how well it would all work but it really does look as though they're up there on stage. That's only part of the show though, there are animated bits and videos shown on ruddy huge screens that make up the walls of the Arena, a live band and vocalists to add that live feel and enough frickin' laser beams to destroy a small planet. In short, it's pretty bloody spectacular. 

Pretty much all the hits are included plus some of the new stuff that magically appeared last year and each ABBA-tar 'comes out' on stage to deliver a little speech throughout the night. Of course what they can't do is interact with the audience so there's the odd moment or two when people cheer something that's been said but the ABBA-tar carries on speaking rather than basking in the adoration but that's a minor quibble. I'm guessing there's zero chance of seeing the real band play live ever again so this is a pretty great substitute. 

What its success will mean for live music in the future, who knows? As this technology develops will artists play live shows in one country and have them beamed around the world so they appear to be on dozens of stages at the same time? And will people accept it? Will they even notice? Lets face it, if you go to a huge gig the chances are you'll end up watching most of the action on giant screens anyway. I suspect the likes of The Rolling Stones are watching this play out and seeing a way to carry on raking in the squillions without having to leave home. Fast forward a decade or three and you'll probably be able to beam bands into your own living room so you can enjoy the show in your pants...

PS: A word of warning about buying tickets for this show. There doesn't appear to be a box office so all sales are handled by Ticketmaster. Oh dear. An awful lot of tickets then seem to end up on Viagogo, a secondary ticketing platform with a lousy reputation populated by touts who are making millions by slapping obscene mark-ups on anything they can get their sticky little hands on. Worse still are the scammers who don't even have any bloody tickets, My father in law bought 4 tickets through Viagogo...or so he thought...but they didn't exist. He was unaware that Viagogo was a secondary ticketing platform or that he was 'buying' from a private 'seller'. When we turned up we were gently informed by a very lovely lady that he'd been scammed. Ouch. Fortunately Mrs B and I were able to buy tickets from a couple of people who had spares for a fraction of the sum that the scammer had charged and we got in but father-in- law and his partner weren't so lucky. I LOATHE Viagogo and anyone who prays on music fans and always have done. It should be illegal to buy tickets purely for profit but sadly too many people are making too much money from it and there seems little appetite to stamp it out. Personally I'd never buy a ticket with a mark-up on it and if everyone else did likewise these leeches would be wiped out. 

This Is Why - Paramore

Spankingly brand new single and video from Paramore...and I think quite a few of us can probably relate to the lyrics right now. It's a little heavier than some of their more recent material, but then again we're living in heavier times. After all in the 5 years since their last album we've endured Covid, lockdowns, an energy crisis and now the stirrings of a global recession coupled with WW3. Oh deep joy. Anyway, the track's ace, so every cloud and all that jazz.   

The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum - Sex Patels

This seems a pretty appropriate track for today. Irrespective of political party, nationality, religion, gender etc etc the whole world appears to have gone quite bonkers. Ah well, I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash. 

Great Lost Albums Of Our Time - Handcream For A Generation by Cornershop

 

Picked up another copy of Cornershop's classic album Handcream For A Generation (I already have a few...ahem) from Brighton last week and noticed that this year's its 20th anniversary! Good grief. I have no idea why this album wasn't number one all over the planet but then again much of what happens in this world makes zero sense to me. A glorious mash up of funk, disco, indie, ska...you name it...it's ripe for (re)discovery for anyone with ears. I mean...how good is this?! 

And this...

Trust me, you need this album in your life. 

Altered Images / Vanity Fairy @ Concorde 2, Brighton - Tuesday September 13th 2022

I may go to a miniscule number of gigs these days (blame the shocking lack of public transport down here in sunny Devon) but it’s all about the quality not the quantity and tonight's gig, all the way across the south coast in Brighton, was a blinder. Kicking off with the wittily named Vanity Fairy (see what she did there?) we were treated to a brilliantly bonkers set fusing the vocal gymnastics of early Kate Bush with a super cool electro disc beat. Bonus points for the recycled promo material made from playing cards featuring either cats or...er...naked men in various states of 'excitement' too.

Altered Images have been on my and Mrs Baron’s live wish list for a looooooooooooooooong time so as this gig coincided with her 21^st (ahem) birthday it was too good an opportunity to miss. Bouncing onstage like the past 40 years never happened Clare Grogan and the band delivered the perfect mix of old and new tracks (from this year’s awesome Mascara Streakz) with enough energy to power most of Western Europe (which could come in handy right now eh?). All the hits were performed to perfection from the decidedly anti-pop classic Dead Pop Stars through to the chiming sunshine pro-pop of I Could Be Happy and a personal favourite of mine, Don’t Talk To Me About Love. We also got some fine deeper cuts too including Insects (from first album Happy Birthday) which wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a Siouxsie and the Banshees album (perhaps unsurprising given that Steve Severin had a hand in the production of the original). What really impressed though were the new songs, released a mere 39 years after Altered Images’ last album. Let’s be honest now, Kylie would give her gold hot pants for title track Mascara Streakz, a sultry and sublime slice of techno dusted dance or the anthemic Glitter Ball. 

There was a surprisingly emotional moment too during another newbie Your Life Is Mine, a touching 'I've got your back for the rest of my life' love letter from Clare to her daughter. She predicted that she wouldn’t make it through the song without shedding a tear or two and she was right bless ‘er. I suspect she wasn't the only one. 

After leaving the stage to thoroughly well-deserved rapturous applause the band returned for a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday that Clare very kindly dedicated to Mrs Baron. No idea who asked her to do that…  

Releasing a new album after such a long gap’s never an easy trick to pull off and even though this version of Altered Images have seemingly been playing together for a while tonight’s gig could have been a bit of a resting on past glories affair, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, as another highlight of the new album puts it, the whole evening was a truly ‘Beautiful Thing’.

Queen Elizabeth II RIP

I chose Jeff Buckley's album Grace to listen to in the bath last night knowing that the passing of Queen Elizabeth II could come at any moment...and it did...shortly after this track played. Whatever you think of the monarchy carrying out royal duties for over 70 years right up to hours before your death is pretty bloody remarkable and, personally, I reckon the country and world's a poorer place without her. What's striking from the people showing up at Buckingham Palace is the range of ages, cultures, faiths and any other differentiations that you care to mention. Apparently even Putin sent a tribute. It's hard to imagine any other person on the planet whose passing will receive as much coverage as the Queen's or to envisage a future monarch (or any head of state for that matter) that will ever see (and, arguably, initiate) as many changes as she did. In the immortal words of Paddington Bear, "Thank you...for everything". 

Narrow Ocean – The Standing Waves

 

You’d have to be living under a rock not to notice that we’re living in troubled times (that’s if you can afford the rent that is…have you seen how expensive rocks are these days?) and it’s against this backdrop that Devon based The Standing Waves release their second album, Narrow Ocean. 

As fine a collection of country folk tinged tunes you’re ever likely to hear either side of the River Exe it’s a much needed salve for the soul, from the powerfully poignant Cindy through to the hoedown of Wildfire and the gentler waltz of Luck & Money (two things we could all do with a little of right now eh?). 

With heartbreakingly beautiful harmonies from vocalists Will and Deborah, arrangements and playing from a collective of artists clearly at the top of their game and recorded in the intriguingly named Valvetastic Studio in Exeter it’s an album that’s somehow both timely and timeless.

Narrow Ocean is available to buy on CD or download from September 30^th and you can follow the band right here The Standing Waves | Facebook

Better Things - The Bouncing Souls

Picked up a stash of noughties US pop punk CDs for 50p each (yes, I know...if only energy bills were that cheap eh?) from the local car boot on Wednesday including The Gold Album from The Bouncing Souls and this track seems pretty appropriate for these troubled times. The country/world may well be going to hell in a handcart but at least we can go out pogoing!

Dirty No-One - The Maisonettes

Caught this lot playing the Exeter Arts Festival thingy at the weekend, ace Riot Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl pop punksters with enough energy to power a small town...and boy....or girl...could we do with some of that right now. 

Beautiful Days 2022 @ Escot Park, August 19th - 21st

Oh for the days when I had the time and energy to write proper reviews of gigs and festivals…by proper I mean pages of the bloody stuff that reminds me of what I’ve seen over the past 30 years or so which, even if no one else is interested, mildly amuses me. So, for the purposes of recording who I saw at this year’s Beautiful Days here’s a whizzzzzzzzzzz through the highlights…

Cam Cole 

After spending a traditional night wandering around the site drinking cider and talking bollocks with loads of lovely random strangers we kicked off Day One proper with bluesy busker extrordinaire Cam Cole followed by some sultry rocksteady courtesy of Hollie Cook and The Rumjacks, neatly summed up as The Clash meets The Pogues in the programme, I’ll go with that. 

                                                        Hannah Moule and The Moulettes

Hannah Moule and The Moulettes were a new one on me but at times their mash up of strings, proggy rock vibes and folk blew my socks off…so much so that we parted with £20 for a double CD after their gig. And that don’t happen very often. Caught a snatch of The Dandy Warhols before dancing our knackered old asses into funk soul oblivion to Disco Panther in The Bimble Inn. 

                                                                Disco Panther 

Caught a little bit of Flogging Molly but what happened after that is a bit of a blur.

Day Two saw us rise and shine (ahem) to Idestroy’s riot grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl punk on the main stage and then…oh my…oh my…Opus Kink. 

                                                                    Opus Kink

If Nick Cave and Searching For The Young Soul Rebels era Dexy’s got it on in an opium den the Kink would quite possible be the result. Not to be outdone by the keyboard player who did the whole show in his boxer shorts and socks the lead singer played the last few tracks in his pants. 

                                                                    Opus Kink-ier

And this was all before 1pm. Quite frankly one of the best live bands on planet earth right now or ever. Feet served up some fine post punk to bring ours back down to earth (our feet that is…oh you got that…good). The Lovely Eggs DIY punk snapped us (and our ankles...pogoing at my age is a risky business) before Snapped Ankles' (see?) krautrocky beats sent me slightly squiffy (although that might have been the cider). Retiring to our tent for a much needed respite we heard a little Neds Atomic Dustbin in the background before emerging for a quick blast of The Interrupters (who I wish we’d seen more of) on our way to see Seth Lakeman. I’m not a huge fan of the Big Top, it’s a festival dammit…I want to be outside…come rain or shine…and when it’s busy it’s hard to see much so we scurried (I say scurried…I mean crawled) over to the main stage for Maximo Park’s hit littered set and, another festival highlight for many, The Specials. Musically they sounded better than ever but perhaps they missed the youthful leaping about of Neville Staple…although at 67 I’m not sure how much leaping about he’d be up for…as a counterpoint to Terry Hall’s considerably dourer than thou delivery. I still loved every second of it though and happily ticked one of the few remaining bands off my bucket list. As if that wasn’t enough for one day we even made it to the majority of a truly moving set from The Imagined Village featuring, amongst others, folk legend Martin Carthy, daughter Eliza and, popping up now and then, Billy Bragg. Martin looked a little frail this time and his contribution seemed modest but then again he’s 81 for god’s sake. He ended the set singing a spirited Cum On Feel The Noize with Billy Bragg though followed by a quick blast of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles that for some reason seemed incredibly poignant this evening. 

                                                                The Tiny Tea Tent...awww...bless it

A cup of tea in the Tiny Tea Tent capped off one of the best days at a festival that I can remember…and I’ve been to one or two.   

Day Three already? How?! After a little breakfast red wine to steady the old feet we made it down just in time to join Funke and The Two Tone Baby’s monkey army (you had to be there). 

                                                            Funke and The Two Tone Baby

I first encountered Funke waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2013 and he’s doggedly played gigs here, there and everywhere to a small but perfectly formed group of fans ever since then. Normally a resident of The Bimble Inn this year he was justifiably elevated to the mains stage and blew the frankly huge 11am crowd away with his one man assault on the beats and blues. If there’s any justice one day he’ll be headlining. Yorkshire post punkers Deadletter continued the incredible run of great bands with an equally lively set necessitating a quick walk around the site to catch our breath before catching something else…Bob Vylan. 

                                                                            Bob Vylan

There’s controversial and then there’s Bob Vylan who’s stream of grime rock fuelled “righteous anger” reached its peak with a little speech about wanting to kill the queen. Judging by Facebook some people took offence at the Vylan’s set but somehow, given the chance, I doubt whether Mr Vylan (either of them, the drummer's called Bob Vylan too...that's handy...ahem) would actually murder a 96 year great grandmother. 

Personally, whilst I didn’t agree with every single word he said, I bloody loved the set (and even ended up on the stage with the Vylans and a bunch of others who’d jumped the barriers at Bob’s request…never a simple move for a man of my age). We’re living in a painfully bland age at the moment and it was refreshing to see someone up there who’s not afraid to say what they’re thinking, even if it’s likely to attract all kinds of flack. 

I was interested to see someone who appeared to be their manager, a grey haired American dude, who clearly enjoys a little limelight himself judging by his sound checking. Could he be encouraging the band to ramp up the controversy in a tactic taken straight out of Malcolm McLaren’s playbook? Hmmm, maybe. Given the grim inevitability of riots and civil unrest that’s hurtling towards us Bob Vylan could well turn out to be 2023’s Sex Pistols.

                                                                        Katy J Pearson

A quick dash to the Big Top to catch the lovely Katy J Pearson (wearing a dress just purchased from our good friends at Kinky Melon) country tinged pop before legging it back to the main stage for Jim Bob, former lead shouter behind Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine. I’ve been wanting to see this dude for years and he didn’t disappoint, even if he didn’t play Sheriff Fatman. That just left The Unthanks' hauntingly magical clog driven folk, Billy Bragg’s mix of singalong hits and social commentary and The Levellers traditional festival closing set culminating in a pretty spectacular firework display. 

                                        Billy Bragg...and someone's head...I'm available for weddings 

I was too far away to see which one of The Levs made a comment about how this year going back to the real world would be harder than ever with what’s going on but the coming 12 months are going to be pretty hideous for an awful lot of people, here and across the world. I don’t have the answers but pogoing about in a field every day after a pint of scrumpy or 5 seems more appealing than ever right now...     

Splendor In The Grass - Pink Martini

How's this for a beautiful track eh? One of the picks from last weeks CD haul the album it comes from cost me a whole 33p. 

Summer Nights - Olivia Newton John and John Travolta

Grease was huge when I was 7 or 8 years old and I've loved the film and soundtrack pretty much ever since. Olivia may have gone to that great High School dance in the sky this week but, for the next few days, at least we can look forward to some pretty hot summer nights. Let's make the most of it eh, judging by the predicted gas and electricity bills most of us will be lucky to make it to next summer... 

Summer Sun - Matt Berry

On a bit of a Matt Berry binge at the moment and gave disc one of the 4 cd Gather Up boxset a spin last night. It's all really rather ace, as this cut goes to show (we seem to be having a summer...for the next few days at least...so it seems appropriate too). And at £10 for the set...bargaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain! Sadly that was just a two day offer but even at £25 it's a ruddy steal. 

The Good Life - Matt Berry

Finally got hold of a copy of Matt Berry's joyful Television Theme's album and am particularly impressed with the funky breaks in his cover of The Good Life theme tune. Who knew Tom and Barbara were so cool eh? Play this track a few hundred times and you'll forget, for a moment at least, all about our pitiful wannabe PM's (good grief, talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel...actually the scrapings from the bottom of a barrel would make a better PM), the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine, the skyrocketing rate of inflation and...oh yes...the possibility of China going medieval on America's ass. I'm now old enough to have lived through this kind of crap at least half a dozen times and, trust me, it'll all come out in the wash eventually. Probably.   

Lycanthrope Jig - Matt Philip Hale (aka Bandleader MPH)

Huzzah! Matt Philip Hale's back with a brand new album, Surprise In Variety, available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/28bjPHil7TnU1ZecMlSbrB and Bandcamphttps://mattphiliphale.bandcamp.com/album/surprise-in-variety and, as you'd expect if you've been following Matt's prolific and varied output over the past 15 years or so, it's utterly unique and ruddy ace from start to finish. Rave, psych, glam pop, folk, punk...you name it, Matt's jammed the whole lot into his brain and switched the blender to the max. If variety's the spice of life this album'll blow your head clean off. 

Right Said Fred - Bernard Cribbins

Sad to hear that Bernard Cribbins has passed away today at the ripe old age of 93. I'm guessing most people under the age of 40 know him for appearing in the Dr Who reboot but he actually had no less than two top 10 chart hits back in the early 60s. Here's the other one...another Cribbins classic. 

It's a Brum Ting - Friendly Fire Band

If you've not heard this on the trailers for the Commonwealth Games yet you soon will. It's as catchy as hell too, so once you have heard it you'll have it spinning around your brain incessantly.  As a Brummie now living in sunny Devon it's great to hear and see the City celebrating itself, especially as we don't tend to do it half as much as we should. 

 

100% Endurance - Yard Act...featuring Elton John...yes...THAT Elton John

Who knows how the hell this happened but Elton John and Yard Act have hooked up to 'cover' the latter's 100% Endurance. Whatever next? Michael Ball and Amyl and the Sniffers? Hmmm...maybe not...the mix of their names conjures up some rather unpleasant images. 

Savanna Silver Band - Ruby Running Faker

Picked up this funky gem from eBay together with 5 others from the mysterious Seelie Court record label, who seem to have re-released a shed load of rare private pressings from the 70s and 80s last year. Apparently there's only 300 of each CD so the £3 I paid for each one (including postage) would seem to be a ruddy bargain... 

Jaya Ram (excerpt) - The Gouranga Powered Band

Came across 4 CDs (three sealed) by The Gouranga Powered Band last week for a mere 50p each and thought I'd give them a punt. Apparently the band were formed by a bunch of Hare Krishna monks in Scotland and they used to flog these CDs on the streets of Edinburgh in the noughties. Musically it's classic psych rock, lyrically it's well...have a guess...

Call me an oddball but I rather like it, at least I won't forget the words.  

Honeytrap - Squeeze

Finally caught up with one of Squeeze's most recent albums (and one of the most successful of their illustrious career too by all accounts), courtesy of one of Paignton's many excellent charity shops. It's classic Squeeze from start to finish, as this track proves. 

The title track's a belter too. 

It's a shame that the TV series it theme tuned didn't make it to a second season, either due to Peter Kay's withdrawal from the business we call show or possibly Danny Baker's now infamous tweet...

Let’s Rock Exeter 2022 – Powderham Castle, July 2nd 2022

Our fifth (I think…it’s hard for me to count that high) Let’s Rock and a reliably awesome line up once again. Thoroughly enjoyed every single act, which I can’t always say I have in the past, and spent almost 9 and a half hours at the front, beating last year's 8 hour record. Ouch.

There were too many highlights to list (and who the hell wants to read a list of highlights for a festival you probably weren’t at eh?) but special mentions must go to…deep breath…JoBoxers, who knew they didn’t just have 2 great songs and why the hell have they waited 30 odd years to get back together again?...Scritti Politti, greeting the crowd with a “Hello cats and kittens” Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside might look a little older but that voice, that angelic voice, good grief it’s as if the past 30+ years never happened…pop perfection…Tom Bailey, well, I’ve only waited 40 year to see Tom live and he didn’t disappoint,

an emotional singalong of You Take Me Up genuinely seemed to move him too…Heaven 17, one of my favourite synth pop bands and one I could frankly watch and listen to for 9 and a half hours alone…Belinda Carlisle, be still my beating heart…Billy Ocean,

what a legend and a bloody lovely bloke too by all accounts as I got chatting to his plumber before his set…Human League, blimey Phil doesn’t stand still for a second but manages to sound as imperious as ever, it’d be wonderful to hear some new material from them one day but I guess when you have as many great tracks as they do why mess with the setlist eh?

It rained a bit, the sun shone a bit, people moaned about the toilets a bit but I probably enjoyed this Let’s Rock a bit more than any of the others. How about Jimmy Somerville next year? And Cyndi Lauper? She’d be great! Grace Jones?! Yes. Hell yes! Although somehow I can’t see Grace appreciating seeing people dressed up as Beetlejuice…

Come Inside - Thompson Twins

Off to Let's Rock tomorrow and hoping to finally see Tom Bailey (of Thompson Twins fame) live, a mere 40 years after first getting into the band. Somehow I don't reckon he'll dust off this track from 1991 but you never know...

PS: ...or this track...how 90s is this?! 

Dieman Noba Smoke Tafee - S E Rogie

Classic helping of palm wine music from S E Rogie courtesy of another 50p CD bargain last weekend. If this doesn't chill you the hell out then there's no hope. 

Ellie Finnerty @ The Gresham House Inn, Sunday 26th June 2022

Had the great pleasure of catching up with Ellie again during an all too brief return home between a season entertaining holiday makers in Dorset and a stint on a cruise ship pottering around the Med. As with the last time we caught her set Ellie picked classics from the last 7 decades or so and sprinkled in some gems of her own including Generation Jaded (a sorry tale of the perils of internet dating…don’t do it) and Screen (all about following an ex’s social media life and wondering about the life she could have had with ‘em…I reckon she’s better off cruising the Med myself).

It’s a really encouraging sign when your audience calls out for one of your originals - as they did with the aforementioned Screen - rather than a cover and it really doesn’t take a huge leap of imagination to see Ellie belting it out in front of a huge festival crowd. There are plenty of great singers out there but Ellie has a seemingly natural ability to really ‘sell’ a song, to make you believe in what she’s singing, and that’s something a lot rarer. Particularly impressive this afternoon was Ellie’s soulful cover of That’s Life and an emotional Hey Jude which got The Gresham enthusiastically “Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaa”-ing. Who needs Glasto eh? 

With the dark days of lockdowns hopefully behind us and at least side one of that self-penned debut album stuffed with catchy singalong hits in waiting who knows how far Ellie might go now…maybe
to…wait for it…in-Finnerty and beyond (sorry, can’t recent a pun…blame the pints of Devon Scrumpy).

The Vulture - Labi Siffre

Soulfully funky deep cut from the hugely underrated Labi Siffre. Not heard this track before picking up the 3 CD Labi Siffre Gold album for a whole 99p at the weekend. Ace innit? 

Train of Love in Motion - Heaven 17

To...er...'celebrate'...today's rail strike let's revisit Heaven 17's rarely heard Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho album and this single from it which sadly failed to chart back in 1988. 

We Gets Up - Prince

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunky deep cut from Prince's unfairly maligned 3 disc Emancipation album (picked up from a chazza for a mere 50p last week) to gets you up over 'hump day'. Play it loud muthahumpers. 

Up The Mountain - Regina Spector

Possibly inspired by 'there was an old woman who swallowed a fly' Regina Spector's back with a simmeringly seductive slice of superlative orchestral pop (try saying that with false teeth). And just because it's a Monday let's drop in the tune that made me a fan waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2006-ish. 

 

Dumb Head - The Dumbettes

You Tube suggested this track this morning and it turns out to be a Misty's Big Adventure side project that had somehow escaped my ears. I'm assuming the late, great Grandmaster Gareth had a hand in its production... 

The Bike Song - Mark Ronson and The Business International

So, how was your 'Platty Joobs'? We really should have more 4 day weekends, how about it Liz? I took part in the local annual vintage bike ride. with any luck I'll have recovered by the next one. 

Shake Your Pants - Cameo

I'm reliably informed that Her Majesty likes nothing better than getting down to Cameo's Shake Your Pants so this ones for you ma'am.  

Mick's Up - The Style Council

Finally got my hands on The Complete Adventures of the Style Council boxset recently and span disc one last night which features this instrumental gem from the underrated genius that is Mick Talbot. It's a funky souly thang.  

Reach For The Sun - The Polyphonic Spree

If there's one band that comes close to the life affirming nature of a Misty's Big Adventure gig it's The Polyphonic Spree and this track in particular seems appropriate right now... 

Grandmaster Gareth RIP

I have no words. Okay, that’s not strictly true but after trying for three days to digest the frankly shattering news that Gareth Jones aka Grandmaster Gareth, the driving force behind legendary Birmingham band Misty’s Big Adventure, had ‘left us’ I still can’t take it in. The nature of Gareth’s passing is his and his family’s affair but I hope he knew how much he was loved and admired by those of us who had the privilege of seeing him perform, hearing his music and meeting with him in some sticky floored venue or another over the years. I could waffle on and on…and quite possibly on…about what he and his band meant to me but I think it’s best to let the music speak for itself. My thoughts and sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and many (but nowhere near as many as he and the band deserved) fans who are no doubt feeling just as numb as I am right now. RIP Gareth. X

PS: If you're new to the band you can still pick up a copy of The Young Person's Guide To Misty's Big Adventure here...please do...

One Life To Live - Lou Rawls

Uplifting and classy slice of Philly disco soul from Lou Rawls, courtesy of another bargain CD compilation (West End Girls on the...er...Laserlight Digital label...nope...me neither). It's easy to be sniffy about compilation albums but I've grown to love 'em. At £1 this CD contains no less than 16 great tracks which works out...hang on...at 6.25p each. Bargain. Evidently somebody else thought so recently as they snapped up a copy on eBay for just under £8.00  West End Girls (1971-85, incl. Maxis) Jesse GREEN, Lee Marrow, Lime, Linda Carr, | eBay

Sweet Potato - John Renbourn

Picked up a 'best of' John Renbourn CD last week for 50p and can highly recommend spending an hour or three exploring his back catalogue. How easy does he make playing the guitar look...? Surely he had twice as many fingers and hands as the rest of us? 

Genocidal Humanoidz - System Of A Down

Not sure if I ever posted this comeback track from SOAD when it came out back in 2021 but even if I did you can never have too much SOAD can you eh? Sadly given Putin's current insanity this track's even more relevant than when it was written (in aid of the victims of the most recent Armenian and Azerbaijan conflict). 

I'm Travelling On - Ruby Turner

I'm not remotely religious but I do love a bit of gospel and this cut from Ruby Turner (another of last weekend's CD picks) hit the spot when I was lounging about in the bath last night. Amen! 

My Sweetheart - Rahsaan Patterson

Took a punt on this CD at the weekend (laying out a whole pound coin) and uncovered a bit of a neo soul gem. Here's one of the picks of the album, echoes of Stevie Wonder with a light dusting of Prince on the top.

I Want To Live - Gavin Friday

Picked up a cheap compilation of Irish related tracks on CD (okay, so all CDs are cheap at the moment but I think this one was 10p) and the first one was this goth tinged blast from the past from Gavin Friday (which I'm pretty sure I have on vinyl somewhere). Staggered to discover that it's now 30 years old...and even more staggered to think that I'm 30 years older. 

Unnecessary Drama - Belle and Sebastian

Channelling their inner The The the...the new track from Belle and Sebastian's amongst the best things they've ever done, which is quite some achievement. I can't believe that anyone reading this - hello to you both - isn't already familiar with B&S's back catalogue but just in case here's a trio of classic cuts: 

Hey Joe (Relax) - Lynks

 Another banger from the mysterious Lynks, I reckon it's Jacob Rees-Mogg in disguise. 

There's No Stopping Us - Ollie and Jerry

One of the picks of the weekend's CD haul was a double album of the soundtracks to Breakin' 1 and 2. I might be guilty of wearing the old rose coloured spectacles here but weren't the 80s sooooooooooooo much more fun than nowadays? Answers on a ZX Spectrum 16K. 

The Birth Of Cool Britannia

Watched the 'Rock Family Trees - The Birth of Cool Britannia' last night (available on iPlayer right here), an enjoyable romp through arguably the UK's last great musical movement. Sadly it seems as though we're supposed to be ashamed of anything remotely to do with Great Britain these days and one or two of the contributors seemed a little too keen to distance themselves from 'Britpop', even though some of its best tunes were actually less than flattering about dear old Blighty. Oh well, if you don't like it here you can always toddle off somewhere else. Anyway here's a trio of early 'Britpop' classics, all of which I was remarkably lucky to see played live before each of the respective bands made it big. 

Oh go on then, lets have one more from Blur's underrated Modern Life Is Rubbish album...a title that seems to get more appropriate with each passing day: 

Blue Train - John Coltrane

Despite being a member of Ronnie Scott's in Birmingham in my early 20s it's taken almost 30 years before I started buying jazz cds by the bucketload, like this classic by John Coltrane...mine for £1 last Saturday. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. 

Ping Pong - Stereolab

When's a pop song more than just a pop song? When it's one of the sharpest summaries of the economic and political system that you're ever likely to hear. If the lyrics have ever passed you by (and they passed me by for years) cop a load of this:

It's alright 'cause the historical pattern has shown
How the economical cycle tends to revolve
In a round of decades, three stages stand out in a loop
A slump and war, then peel back to square one and back for more

Bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
Huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

You see the recovery always comes 'round again
There's nothing to worry for things will look after themselves
It's alright, recovery always comes 'round again
There's nothing to worry if things can only get better

There's only millions that lose their jobs and homes and sometimes accents
There's only millions that die in the bloody wars, it's alright

It's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing
It's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing

It's alright 'cause the historical pattern has shown
How the economical cycle tends to revolve
In a round of decades, three stages stand out in a loop
A slump and war, then peel back to square one and back for more

Bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
Huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

Don't worry, be happy, things will get better naturally
Don't worry, shut up, sit down, go with it and be happy

Bloody genius. 

Purple Zone - Soft Cell/Pet Shop Boys

This snuck out a couple of weeks ago and has already racked up almost half a million views on You Tube (I think it was briefly number one in the i-Tunes chart too). Cleverly fusing the DNA of both bands it appears to be a song dedicated to old age which, now I'm edging towards 52 (how did that happen?), certainly strikes a chord with me. Ahem. 

Amazing to think that it's 40 years (!) since I first became a Soft Cell fan. How fresh does this track still sound eh? I wonder what Cindy Ecstasy's up to these days? 

It Sure Is Groovy - Marlena Shaw

A suitably groovy cut from a remastered Marlena Shaw double CD I picked up in Bristol a couple of weeks back for 25p. The discs are a little scratched and the booklet's missing so I'd normally leave it on the shelf but 25p!!?...you can't even get a Mars Bar for that price these days...and Mars Bars aren't anywhere near as groovy. 

Slice of Heaven - Dave Dobbyn

Heard this on Chris Hawkins' 6 Music show earlier today (courtesy of Sports Team). Never heard it before. What a great slice of uplifting 80s pop eh? And we could all do with some uplifting 80s pop right now. Enjoy!

Troubled times...

The 2020s are shaping up to be pretty bloody awful aren't they eh? A pandemic, a war and now a cost of living crisis not seen since the 1920s. I'm just waiting for the four horsemen (sorry...horsepeople) of the apocalypse to ride into town and then I reckon we're pretty much done. Against this backdrop a couple of tracks have been spinning around in my head for the past few days, Thee Headcoats Troubled Times and Go-Kart Mozarts tragically underrated Relative Poverty.

Still at least it's warm and sunny in the UK at the moment...what's that...snow by the end of the week? Oh bugger off. 

Lighthouse - Mattiel

"Let me know when you can breath again" sings Mattiel on this perfect slice of springtime pop, after 10 days or so of sodding coronavirus I'd like to know the answer to that one myself. If snot was a valuable commodity I'd be a millionaire by now. 

Cough Cough - Everything Everything

Still coughing like someone who's smoked a crate of untipped ciggies, so what better track to end the week on than Everything Everything's prescient ode to Coronavirus, Cough Cough. 

The Plague - Marc Almond

After dodging Coronavirus for two years it finally caught up with us this week, presumably after our break in Bristol which included a couple of cheeky indoor gigs (our first since 2020). Thankfully, as with most people, it seems to be like a bad cold. No idea if it would've been worse if we hadn't been triple jabbed or if wearing a mask at the gigs would have made much difference. No one else was so I suspect it wouldn't have done and let's face it we have to get back to normal at some point so it might as well be now. Sadly some people seem to be particularly judgemental when it comes to vaccines and masks. Get jabbed if you want, wear a mask if you want, stay indoors for the rest of your life if you want, pop on a tinfoil helmet to stop Google from stealing your thoughts if you want...it's up to you.  

Happy Birthday 6 Music!

Working from home for the past 13 years or so 6 Music's kept me company for many, many hours and introduced me to more than its fair share of great music, like Sufjan Stevens for instance. I can remember hearing this track at a particularly stressful time in life (so that'll be most days then) and knowing instantly that it would be a firm favourite for as long as I'm alive and kicking (which, given what's going on right now, might be next week sometime). I'm not a huge fan of some of the changes its made recently but there's still enough good stuff on there to keep me listening, so Happy Birthday 6 Music, may your decks keep spinning (do they still use decks?) and your woofers and tweeters keep...er...woofing and tweeting. 

Ой у лузі червона калина - Eileen

Forgive the endless war related musical posts of late but I couldn't resist this one. Beautiful and justifiably defiant stuff. You listening yet Vlad? 

Mad World - Puddles Pity Party

Given Vlad Shitcan's recent actions...bombing Europe's biggest nuclear power station...wow...smart move there fella...Puddles Pity Party's cover of Mad World seems pretty appropriate right now. Let's hope no one 'accidentally' sprinkles some novichok on his cornflakes eh?