Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is - Sparks

Heard this last night for the first time on one of the last ever 'prime time' Marc Riley 6 Music shows (hang your head in shame Samantha Moy - 'Head of 6 Music', the sooner you're gone the better) and it immediately became one of my top 5 Sparks tracks of all time. Written from the perspective of a 22 hour old baby it's it's utter genius from start to finish and, just in case you don't get it, the video well and truly rams home the point. 

Madame Van Damme - Lightspeed Champion

Picked up the double album of Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You for 50p on Saturday. Bargain. This track's the pick of the bunch so far. One for the nihilists out there.  

Happy 30th Blur-day Modern Life Is Rubbish!

On May 10^th 1993 Blur’s second (and make or break) album, Modern Life Is Rubbish was released in turn helping to kick start arguably one of the most fertile and fun musical movements of my brief lifetime, ‘Britpop’. I've heard Modern Life Is Rubbish being referred to as a bit twee before now but some of the stuff on there, like Advert, clearly points to Blur's post Britpop anthem Song 2. 

And then there's the instrumental pub piano insanity of Intermission...cor blimey...

The album's title strikes a chord too, even more so these days. As a recently turned 53 year old the world I grew up in seems like a different but infinitely better planet. Sure it was harder to access music, film, literature etc etc but that made it more special. And don't get me started on 'smart' phones. Is there a sadder sight than watching couples sitting in a pub totally ignoring each other and glued to whatever the hell they watch or read on the internet? Or people walking down a country lane ignoring the beauty of nature in favour of a bloody video of it? Or rows and rows of boarded up shops, each one representing the loss of dozens of jobs, not to mention the opportunity to, you know, actually talk to someone in the REAL world? Nope. I don't think there is. But then again I'm ancient. Anyway...happy Blur-day Modern Life Is Rubbish! 

Prince Of Peace - Galliano

Thinking of a suitably topical track for this weekend's coronation I came up with the double whammy of PRINCE Of Peace by Galliano, whose lead singer was, from time to time, known as EARL Zinger. Not sure if King Chuck III's an Acid Jazz fan or not but when the tune's this great who cares eh? 

If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot

RIP Gordon Lightfoot, the genius behind this perfect slice of 70s folk rock. I'm guessing a lot of people my age will have come across it courtesy of its use in Trigger Happy TV but you might also hear a slight echo of the track in a certain Whitney Houston number too...

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. 

Party Fears Two - The Divine Comedy

Picked up another ridiculous stash of CDs on Monday and came across this pleasingly jaunty cover version of one of my favourite ever tracks. For contrast here's the original...absolute genius.

Cockwood Shanty Festival

Spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Cockwood Shanty Festival on Saturday (this vid's not from the festival itself but this is one of the groups or 'crews' we saw). Not sure if this is the first one they've done but hopefully it'll be back next year. Coming from Birmingham I'm a bit new to the whole shanty thang. Who knew there were so many 'crews' around keeping this wonderful tradition alive a live o eh? 

Cello Song - Fontaines DC

Loving Fontaines DC's beefed up with still respectful cover of Nick Drake's Cello Song right now. It's taken from an album (The Endless Coloured Ways) of Drake covers that'll no doubt fan the flames of his legacy a little more. What a pity so few people paid any attention to him when he was alive eh? Just in case you've never heard the original wrap your ears around this...

I Need More Love - Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Bought a ridiculous number of CDs over the past few days including this little gem. It's a new one on me but it rocks and funks its ass off...not bad for 33p. CDs people...they're the future. 

We Were We Still Are - Future Utopia featuring Kae Tempest

Proof that I do listen to music made this century (LOL, as the kids used to say when they still had something to LOL about) comes in the form of this sublime track from Future Utopia featuring Kae Tempest. It got played quite a bit on 6Music last week but it seems to have dropped off the playlist already, so before I forget what the hell it was called here it is! 

As Good As New - ABBA

Picked up the 2001 reissue of ABBA's Voulez-Vous album on CD for £1 on Saturday and gave it a spin last night. We all know the hits but I reckon the opening track's every bit as good...just imagine what they could have come up with if they'd stayed together through the 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s...

If As Good As New's got you in the mood for some disco ABBA check out this live version of Summer Night City too. 

Revival Song - Gregory Porter

Added to our collection of Gregory Porter CDs this weekend by picking up a copy of All Rise and gave it a spin last night. Pukka Porter! If this is up your alley I can heartily recommend...well...everything he's done so far. Like this classic...

Steve Mackey RIP

Can it really be 30 years since I first got into Pulp? Yep, apparently so. I was lucky enough to catch some of their iconic early-ish gigs too (yes, I know they formed in 1864), including THAT 1995 Glastonbury headliner set when they were called up to replace Stone Roses. So it was particularly sad to learn that Pulp's bassist Steve Mackay had passed away at just 56 years old (three years or so older than I am now...jeez...that's a sobering thought). RIP dude. 

I only just discovered that he worked with another of my favourite bands from back in the day, The Long Blondes, too. 

RIP dude.

Cardiacs - Burn Your House Brown

Stumbled on this darn fine fan video for the Cardiacs' Burn Your House Brown track. Like many of those who comment on the Cardiacs' videos on You Tube I wish I'd been able to see 'em play live. Mad as several boxes of frogs on crack, but all the better for it. 

Last Shop Standing

Enjoyed a cracking Saturday night in the company of Graham Jones and Pip Piper, the team behind Last Shop Standing which came out waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2012. In the intervening years record shops seems to have gone from strength to strength as owning 'a vinyl' (as the kids say) is about as cool as you can get. 

If you read this blog regularly (bless you) you'll know that I've been banging the drum for CDs for a while and I reckon if record shops got on board with this they'd get even more people through their doors. Why? Well, owning, storing and playing a CD's a doddle compared with vinyl (as I have far too much of both, you can trust me on this one) and you can pick second hand ones up for pennies right now. Of course record shops would want to charge a little more than the charity shops but I suspect they'd do pretty well if they sold a carefully selected range of CDs for a few quid. Vinyl heads can be pretty sniffy about CDs...I used to be...but if you want a physical copy of your favourite music with the same artwork and liner notes that you get with vinyl (albeit in a handier size) CDs are a great bet. And, unlike vinyl, it'll sound just as good on the 1000th play as it did on the first...which certainly can't be said of any other format. If they launch National CD Day soon you'll know who to blame. 

Omnibus - XTC

It's rare to find XTC CDs in the chazzas so I was chuffed to pick up a first pressing of their early 90s masterpiece Nonsuch for £1. It's a genuine shame that the band pretty much stopped working together almost 20 years ago but there's still time for a reunion right? Over you you Andy and Colin...

The Songs We Were Singing - Paul McCartney

Picked up McCartney's Flaming Pie on Saturday for a whole £1 and gave it a spin last night. Well worth a listen. Is it me or does this track have a slight echo of Mull of Kinytre in the chorus? Answers on a flaming bagpipe.  

The Gumbo Variations - Frank Zappa

Stocked up on Zappa CDs from eBay while they're still stupidly cheapo and picked up the original 1987 CD release of Hot Rats for less than the price of a loaf of bread. Pretty sure I have at least one other copy somewhere in my many mountains of CDs but every home should have at least two copies of Hot Rats, just in case. Right? Right?! Oh...just me then. Anyway, if you like jazz, funk, prog, rock, folk, death metal...this track's likely to float yer boat. Enjoy! 

Trugoy RIP

Another day, another sad loss for the world of music. This time it's Trugoy from De La Soul, one of the most positive and upbeat rap and hip hop groups of all time...not words usually associated with those genres sadly.  

 If these tracks don't make you feel at least 78% happier then you need some new ears.

RIP Trugoy. 

Burt Bacharach RIP

How many classic songs did Burt write? And how many of these did you know he wrote? I had no idea he wrote Little Red Book! Good grief... 

...I knew this was a Burt track, but what a classic. And then there's this...

and this co-write with Christopher Cross, Carol Bayer Sager and and Peter Allen...

and this absolute gem written with Hal David...

and that's not even scratched the surface. The greatest songwriter of all time? I reckon so. Cheers Burt. 

Thank You For Funking Up My Life - Donald Byrd

Just heard this track on Craig Charles' weekday 6 Music show, funking great stuff. If your life's not funked up enough get on it. 

Moira Jane's Cafe - Definition Of Sound

Picked up another load of CDs at the weekend including Definition Of Sound's classic Love and Life album for a non digital £1. Bargain. It's more than worth it for this track alone but then you've got this gem too...

Most people still look at me as though I've lost the plot when I bang on about buying CDs but they're probably the same people that told me I was mad when I came home from car boot sales with carrier bags full of vinyl in the 90s and look how that turned out. Trust me, one day the likes of Spotify will start charging for every single track you stream...music...and the internet itself will become like every other utility, you'll pay for what you use. Which seems entirely fair and logical to me. Given the Greta Thunberg melting levels of energy that the damn thing uses every second it's only a matter of time. 

Great Escape - Gemma Rogers

Okay, so this track may be a year old but it's new-ish to me and it's pretty perfect for a Friday afternoon. Plus it sounds as though it was recorded back in the early 80s, always a winner in my book. 

Another Journey - Joie Dead Blonde Girlfriend

Picked up a bunch of CDs from the chazzas on Saturday and took a punt on this in the 4 for £1.50 section. Turns out to be a rather spunky antifolk classic, not what I was expecting from the cover or artist's name but a pleasant surprise. Here's another one that might float yer boat...

When We Were Young - Belle and Sebastian

Rather splendid but troublingly reflective new track from Belle and Sebastian, who's lead singer and vocalist Stuart Murdoch seems to be going through a bit of a rough time right now. Wishing him all the very best, in the unlikely event that he'll ever read this... 

Breakout - Swing Out Sister

How can this be 37 years old? Good grief. I must still have several copies of the album it came from (It's Better To Travel) on vinyl but picked up an original pressing of the CD at the weekend for a mere 99p and gave it a spin last night. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the memories. Amazingly the band's still a going concern although their last album was six years ago. Maybe they need to...wait for it...breakout a new one eh? 

Hi Ren - Ren

This has been popping up on a few friends' Facebook pages recently and it's well worth a share. Apparently Ren was signed by Sony back in 2010, then he got ill (Lyme Disease) and was dropped like a sack of spuds. Clearly he's been through the mill over the past few years then but he's seemingly doing his own thing now and it's starting to pay off. At seven and a half minutes this track's a bit of an epic, if it gets your juices flowing try the newbie Sick Boi too. 

What a Bloody Long Day It's Been - Ashton, Gardner and Dyke

Picked up an Ashton, Gardner and Dyke compilation CD (for a mere 50p) when we were in Brighton last year and only just got round to listening to it. What a gem! Take this track, which seems pretty appropriate for a Friday afternoon. Enjoy! 

Enjoy Yourself - The Specials

Did you see the news yesterday? Taking cake into the office is the same as passive smoking? Health Canada claims that there's no safe drinking limit but you should stick to no more than two a week?  Wow. Just wow. What's happened to the world eh? Until recently no one had any idea what a 'unit of alcohol' was or how many calories such and such contained and everyone seemed a hell of a lot happier. It's the young I feel sorry for, they're fed this bullshit from day one. No wonder the poor sods are self harming and committing suicide like there's no tomorrow, which sadly there isn't for far too many of 'em. I'm not advocating injecting heroin into your eyeballs or stuffing you face with lard but we're here for an all too brief time so just enjoy yourself.  You might knock a few years off your life, but lets face it they're unlikely to be the best. Mine's a pint of scrumpy. Cheers! 

Barney - The Toasters

You know you're getting old when the stuff that was brand new and cutting edge when you were a kid ends up in an antiques centre, but that's where I picked up an excellent ska punk CD compilation called Know Your Skalphabet 2 (for a whole £1) released waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2002 on the seemingly now defunct Good Clean Fun Records. This track by The Toasters is one of the picks of the bunch but there's not a duff one on there. Expect to see it on the Antiques Roadshow any day now...

Louis Jordan - Caldonia

Picked up a rather spiffing Louis Jordan compilation CD this week and couldn't resist sticking up a vid. Neon bedecked (yes...bedecked...I've been reading the dictionary again) instruments, dance routines and the blueprint for rock 'n' roll, all in one three minute clip. Enjoy! 

Roy Wood, Phil Lynott, Chas Hodges and Bev Bevan mash it up...

Came across this clip on Facebook courtesy of Bob, our old postman from back in Bearwood. Allegedly it was filmed at The Dog on the Hagley Road too...wherever it was imagine popping in for a pint that night eh?   

Septober Energy - Centipede

I know what you need at the end of the first week of 2023...85 minutes of progressive jazz! Trust me, it's worth a listen, even if bits of it are, let's say, a little 'challenging'. Enjoy! 

Alan Rankine RIP

Sad to learn of the passing of Alan Rankine yesterday. The Associates are one of my favourite bands of all time and they're criminally underrated. Pretty much everything they ever recorded is worth listening to but if you're new to the band start with their Sulk album and go from there. Here's a gem from Rankine's solo work too...

Rich - Yard Act

Pretty sure I posted this track up last year but after getting the album on heavvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvyweight vinyl for Christmas I can't resisting sticking it up (again?). Yard Act's debut was the album of the year for my money and hopefully 2023 will see more from them. Speaking of my musical hopes for 2023 how about a prime time music show on the BBC eh? It's telling that there wasn't a Christmas Top Of The Pops this year, has the Beeb given up on music? Okay, so there's an awful lot of utter crap around these days but bands like Yard Act give me some reason to be optimistic about the future and it would be great to see them on 'mainstream' TV. Maybe that ship's sailed though. Maybe the charts are destined to be populated entirely by computer programmed autotuned garbage until the end of time? Anyway, Happy New Year and all that jazz!  

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.