Veronica Lake - Sparks

Yet another cracking new single from Sparks, this one a homage to 40's femme fatale Veronica Lake...and why the hell not eh? Not only was she an actress she was seemingly a mean magician too. 

Breathing Is E-Zee - E-zee Posse

Dusted off a copy of Now Dance 91 last night and heard this E-Zee Possee track for the first time in...oooooh...32 years. If you like a bit of Deee-lite you'll probably enjoy this one. You're welcome.  

Fire - Koko Taylor

Smokin' hot blues from Koko Taylor to kick off the new week. I hadn't heard of her before I picked up this CD a few weeks ago but she had a hell of a voice. They don't make 'em like this any more. 

Kandy Pop - Bis

Great to hear Bis's Kandy Pop get an all too rare spin on 6Music this morning. How the heck can this track be almost 30 years old though? Very happy memories of seeing the band play at The Flapper, mine's a pint of Dog Bolter. If Kandy Pop's your bag you'll be chuffed to know that Bis are still releasing great tunes, here's one of their most recent.

I can heartily recommend Manda Rin's solo stuff too. 

Billy Hyena - Wide Boy Awake

Just finishing off the excellent Jordan (Mooney) autobiography Defying Gravity and decided to check out the band formed by her husband (and ex Adam and the Ants Ant) of the time Kevin Mooney. Jordan managed the band but despite her best efforts they didn't really get anywhere...clearly the drugs didn't help. Musically there's a touch of Adam Ant and Bow Wow Wow about their stuff, as you'd expect, but with a bit more of a electro clubby feel, especially on a track like Slang Teacher. 

A bit of an early 80s gem eh? 

Tarred and Feathered - Cardiacs...cover by Abel Tuinestra

My fixation with Cardiacs led me to this impressive piano cover version by Abel Tuinestra. I'm frankly amazed that human hands can do this stuff without falling off. Just in case you've never heard this original (which I've posted at least once but hey...if a thing's worth sharing once it's worth sharing a dozen times) here's the original. Prepare to have your minds melted. 

I'm Going To Get Free - Dexys

Dexys (or at least a version of Dexys) are back with a brand new single and album. Hurrah! Once again Kev's pounding the streets, no doubt hoping to repeat Come On Eileen's success, but this time he's swanked up to the eyeballs in the kind of suit that's quite possibly never been seen in Bethnal Green. Amazingly the locals barely give him a second look. Perhaps they're used to him by now eh? 

The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte - Sparks

Been meaning to post this up for a few weeks but...you know...I'm old and all that shit. Anyway, Sparks are back with album number 25! Or 26 if you count FFS! Or 27 if you count their live album! Or 29 if you count their soundtrack albums! Good work chaps. 

Action - Sweet

Sad to hear that 6Music's shoving Marc Riley aside after 18 years service but I did like his choice of opening track last night. Listen to the lyrics. Surely that selection wasn't an accident? I suspect/hope he'll leave rather than accept the graveyard shift and trust that some of his long serving colleagues will join him in leaving what's now, very sadly, a sinking ship. Once again the BBC just can't leave things alone can it eh? The sooner the licence fee's scrapped the better. 

Ryuichi Sakamoto RIP

Only just heard that Ryuichi Sakamoto's passed away. Loved this track when it first came out back in the early 80s and this inspired me to explore his work with Yellow Magic Orchestra by picking up the odd album at Record Fairs in the far off days when the net was something caught fish in. 

Sayonara Mr S.